A little rabbit, a big garden, and a very close call! A story by Beatrix Potter, from her famous 1902 picture book.
🥕 The story in brief
Peter is a little rabbit. His mother tells him, “Don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden.”
But Peter goes anyway! He eats and eats, and then Mr. McGregor sees him. Peter has to run, hide, and find his way home.
📖 The story, part by part
Tap “Read it to me” to listen, or read each part with a grown-up. The green boxes show Beatrix Potter's own words.
Part 1
Four little rabbits
Once upon a time, there were four little rabbits. Their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter.
They lived with their mother in a sandy bank, under the root of a very big fir tree.
Part 2
Mother's rule
One morning, Mrs. Rabbit said, “You may go into the fields or down the lane. But don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden.”
Then she took her basket and her umbrella and went to the baker's. She bought a loaf of brown bread and five currant buns.
Beatrix Potter wrote: “Now run along, and don't get into mischief. I am going out.”
Part 3
Peter sneaks in
Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail were good little bunnies. They went down the lane to pick blackberries.
But Peter did not listen. He ran to Mr. McGregor's garden and squeezed under the gate!
Beatrix Potter wrote: “But Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight away to Mr. McGregor's garden, and squeezed under the gate!”
Part 4
Yum! Then, uh-oh!
Peter ate some lettuces and some French beans. Then he ate some radishes.
Now his tummy felt a little sick. He went to look for some parsley.
And who did he meet? Mr. McGregor! Mr. McGregor jumped up and ran after Peter, waving a rake.
Mr. McGregor called out: “Stop thief!”
Part 5
Run, Peter, run!
Peter was very frightened. He forgot the way back to the gate!
He lost one shoe in the cabbages and the other shoe in the potatoes.
Then he got stuck in a gooseberry net. The big brass buttons on his new blue jacket caught on it. Peter cried big tears.
Some friendly sparrows flew to him and told him to keep trying. Peter wriggled out just in time, but he had to leave his jacket behind.
Part 6
Hiding in the shed
Peter ran into the tool shed and jumped into a can. It was a good hiding place, but it was full of water!
Then Peter sneezed. Mr. McGregor heard him!
Peter sneezed: “Kertyschoo!”
Peter jumped out of a little window. The window was too small for Mr. McGregor. He was tired of running, so he went back to his work.
Part 7
Lost in the garden
Peter sat down to rest. He was out of breath, and very wet from sitting in that can.
He walked slowly, looking all around. Beatrix Potter says he went “lippity—lippity.”
He found a door in a wall, but it was locked. He asked an old mouse the way to the gate. But she had a big pea in her mouth, so she just shook her head. Peter began to cry.
Next he saw a white cat by a pond, sitting very, very still. Peter went away quietly.
Part 8
The way out
Then Peter heard a hoe scratching in the dirt.
The hoe went: “scr-r-ritch, scratch, scratch, scritch.”
Peter climbed up on a wheelbarrow and peeked over. There was Mr. McGregor, hoeing onions, with his back to Peter. And past him was the gate!
Peter ran as fast as he could. He slipped under the gate and was safe at last in the wood.
Part 9
Home at last
Mr. McGregor hung up Peter's little jacket and shoes to make a scarecrow, to scare away the blackbirds.
Peter ran all the way home to the big fir tree. He was so tired that he flopped down and shut his eyes.
Peter did not feel well that evening. His mother put him to bed and gave him some camomile tea.
But Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail had bread and milk and blackberries for supper.
The End.
💛 What Peter learned
Listen to the grown-ups who love you. Mrs. Rabbit's rule was there to keep her bunnies safe. Peter did not listen, and he had a scary day and a tummy ache. His sisters listened, and they had blackberries!
🐰 Meet the characters
Peter
A curious little rabbit in a blue jacket. He does not listen to his mother!
Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail
Peter's sisters. They are good little bunnies who pick blackberries in the lane.
Mrs. Rabbit
Peter's mother. She loves her four bunnies and gives them a rule to keep them safe.
Mr. McGregor
The gardener. He works hard to grow his vegetables, and he does not want rabbits eating them.
🔤 New words
Tap 🔈 to hear a word and what it means.
mischief
Trouble you get into by being naughty.
naughty
Not doing what you were asked to do.
frightened
Very, very scared.
wriggled
Twisted and wiggled to get free.
scarecrow
Old clothes hung up in a garden to scare birds away.
camomile
A little flower. People make it into a warm tea.
🥬 The garden quiz
How much do you remember? Tap the right answer for each question.
For grown-ups: each question has a 🔈 button so pre-readers can hear it. Works with a keyboard too (Tab to move, Enter to choose).
1. Where did Mrs. Rabbit say NOT to go?
2. How did Peter get into the garden?
3. What color was Peter's jacket?
4. In the shed, what told Mr. McGregor where Peter was?
5. What did Mr. McGregor make with Peter's jacket and shoes?
6. Who had bread and milk and blackberries for supper?
Score: 0 of 6
💬 Let's talk about it
There are no wrong answers. Talk with a grown-up or a friend.
Why do you think Mrs. Rabbit made her rule?
How did Peter feel when he could not find the gate? Have you ever felt lost?
Who helped Peter in the garden? How did they help?
Do you think Peter will go back to the garden? Why or why not?
If you were Mr. McGregor, how would you feel about a rabbit eating your vegetables?
✏️ About Beatrix Potter and her book
Who was Beatrix Potter?
She was a writer and artist. She was born in London, England, on July 28, 1866. She loved to draw animals and plants.
Was Peter real?
Sort of! Beatrix Potter had a pet rabbit named Peter Piper. He gave her the idea for the story.
How did the story start?
On September 4, 1893, she wrote a letter to a sick little boy named Noel Moore. He was five. The letter told a story about four little rabbits, with drawings.
How did it become a book?
Some book companies said no at first. So in December 1901, she printed 250 copies herself. Then, in October 1902, a company called Frederick Warne & Co. printed it with color pictures.
Is it still read today?
Yes! The book has never stopped being printed. Children have been reading it for more than 120 years.
Where did she live later?
In 1905 she bought Hill Top, a little farm in the Lake District of England. Later she made her home in that village and lived there until she died in 1943.