“The Tale of Benjamin Bunny” is a fun story written by Beatrix Potter. It tells the adventure of a young rabbit named Benjamin Bunny and his cousin, Peter Rabbit. This story is not only entertaining but also teaches us about family, being brave, and what happens when we make choices.
One bright morning, Benjamin Bunny, a little rabbit, was sitting and listening to the sound of a pony walking by. Mr. McGregor and Mrs. McGregor were riding in a cart, and once they passed, Benjamin decided to visit his family who lived in the woods behind Mr. McGregor’s garden. This wood was full of rabbit holes, including the neatest one where Benjamin’s aunt and cousins, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter, lived.
Old Mrs. Rabbit, who was a widow, took care of her family by knitting mittens and muffetees from rabbit wool. She also sold herbs, rosemary tea, and something called “rabbit tobacco,” which was actually lavender. Benjamin wasn’t too excited to see his aunt, though.
As he got closer, he almost bumped into his cousin Peter, who looked a bit sad and was wearing a red cotton handkerchief. Peter told Benjamin that he lost his clothes while running away from Mr. McGregor, and now a scarecrow was wearing his coat and shoes!
Benjamin told Peter that Mr. and Mrs. McGregor were out for the day because Mrs. McGregor was wearing her best hat. Peter wished it would rain, maybe hoping it would wash away his worries. Mrs. Rabbit called for Cottontail to get some chamomile, and Peter thought a walk might help him feel better.
The two cousins climbed onto the wall at the edge of the woods and looked into Mr. McGregor’s garden. They saw Peter’s clothes on the scarecrow, and Benjamin suggested they get them back. After a little accident where they fell into a bed of lettuce, they managed to retrieve Peter’s clothes, although they were a bit wet and shrunk.
Benjamin thought they should fill Peter’s handkerchief with onions as a gift for his aunt. But Peter was nervous and kept hearing strange sounds. Benjamin, on the other hand, felt comfortable and enjoyed munching on a lettuce leaf. As they explored the garden, they saw mice cracking cherry stones.
Suddenly, Peter dropped the handkerchief again, and the two rabbits hid under a big basket to escape a sneaky cat. The cat, attracted by the smell of onions, sat on top of the basket for hours, leaving the rabbits in a dark and onion-smelling spot.
As the sun began to set, old Mr. Benjamin Bunny showed up, hopping along the wall and smoking a pipe of rabbit tobacco. He wasn’t scared of the cat and jumped down, surprising it and making it run into the greenhouse. After dealing with the cat, Mr. Bunny rescued his son and Peter, giving them a gentle scolding with his switch before leading them out of the garden.
When Mr. McGregor came back, he was confused by the tiny footprints and wondered how the cat got locked in the greenhouse.
When Peter got home, his mother forgave him for his little adventure, happy that he found his clothes. The story ends with the rabbits hanging the onions from the kitchen ceiling along with herbs and rabbit tobacco.
“The Tale of Benjamin Bunny” is not just a fun story; it teaches us about the importance of family, being brave, and what can happen when we’re curious. Beatrix Potter’s beautiful pictures and exciting story continue to delight readers of all ages, making this tale a timeless classic.
Rabbit Family Tree: Create a family tree for Benjamin Bunny and his relatives. Draw pictures of each character, like Benjamin, Peter, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail. Write a sentence about each character’s role in the story. This will help you understand how each character is connected and their importance in the story.
Garden Adventure Map: Draw a map of Mr. McGregor’s garden based on the story. Include important places like the scarecrow, the lettuce bed, and where the rabbits hid under the basket. Use your imagination to add details like paths and plants. This activity will help you visualize the setting and remember the sequence of events.
Bravery Role-Play: Think about a time when you had to be brave like Benjamin and Peter. Share your story with a friend or family member. Then, act out a scene from the story where the rabbits show bravery, like retrieving Peter’s clothes or hiding from the cat. Discuss how being brave can help you in real life and what you can learn from the rabbits’ adventure.
