The Tale Of Peter Rabbit is possibly one of the cutest short bedtime stories for kids and toddlers ever! It is a classic children’s fairy tale that was written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter in 1902. The story is about a rather naughty and mischievous little rabbit named Peter who manages to get himself into all sorts of trouble in the garden of Mr. McGregor.
Mother Rabbit had warned Peter not to go to Mr. McGregor’s garden but he didn’t listen! Luckily this time he manages to escape but he really should have listened to Mother Rabbit instead of getting into such trouble! Share this exciting bedtime story with your kids by downloading The Tale Of Peter Rabbit PDF down below.
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The Tale Of Peter Rabbit PDF
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Is The Tale of Peter Rabbit PDF Free To Download?
Yes, it is! Beatrix Potter published the book in 1902 and it is now in the public domain so it is completely free to download and read. We hope you enjoy it!
Looking for more Beatrix Potter books –> Beatrix Potter Collection
More Kid’s Books –> Classic Children’s Books & Fairy Tales
The Tale Of Peter Rabbit Summary
As with any awesome children’s bedtime story, Beatrix Potter begins The Tale Of Peter Rabbit with, “Once upon a time”. And so the tale begins! Peter Rabbit lives in a sandbank with his mother and his sisters Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail.
One day, Peter’s mother goes out and she tells Peter and his sisters that they may go down the lane and into the fields but they must not go into Mr. McGregor’s garden. We learn that Peter Rabbit’s father had an accident in Mr. McGregor’s garden and that he ended up in Mrs. McGregor’s pie!
Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-Tail are good little rabbits and they go down the lane to collect blackberries. Peter however decides to sneak into Mr. McGregor’s garden! He eats lots of lettuces and beans and even some radishes. After a while he starts to feel a little bit sick from eating too much, so he goes to look for some parsley. As he rounds a corner he walks straight into Mr. McGregor!
Mr. McGregor chases him and he loses his shoes trying to get away. He gets caught in a gooseberry net and he loses his jacket there. Just then Mr. McGregor catches up to Peter and tries to catch him with a sieve. Peter manages to get away and jumps into a watering can in the tool shed. Mr. McGregor can’t find Peter but that doesn’t stop him from trying!
Just then Peter sneezes and the chase is on once again. Peter manages to jump out of the tool shed window but Mr. McGregor can’t follow him so he gives up the chase.
Peter is very scared and upset and he begins to cry when a mouse won’t help him find his way to the gate. Peter tries finding the gate and when he eventually sees it he starts running very fast to try to get out. Mr. McGregor sees in him but Peter does not care. He squeezes through under the gate and runs into the woods outside the garden.
Mr. McGregor finds Peter’s shoes and jacket and hangs them on the scarecrow to scare away the blackbirds.
Peter runs and runs as fast as he can and he doesn’t stop until he gets home. He is so tired that he flops down. When his mother sees him she wonders what has happened to his clothes. Because Peter isn’t feeling very well his mother puts him into bed and makes some camomile tea for him.
The Tale Of Peter Rabbit Q&A
What Is The Story Behind Peter Rabbit?
Beatrix Potter originally wrote the story of Peter Rabbit in a series of letters to cheer up a sick little boy by the name of Noel Moore. He was five years old at the time and Beatrix thought that the stories would help to pass the time and make him feel a bit better. Peter Rabbit was named after a little pet rabbit named Peter Piper that Beatrix had as a child. The letters were originally written in 1893 but The Tale Of Peter Rabbit was published in 1902.
Is Peter The Rabbit Based On A True Story?
Just like Winnie The Pooh, Peter The Rabbit was based on a real rabbit named Peter Piper! Peter Piper was Beatrix Potter’s pet rabbit when she was a child. It is said that she absolutely loved her little rabbit and that he went everywhere with her. It is also said that Beatrix based many of the other characters in her bedtime stories on her other pets.
What Happened to Peter Rabbit’s Dad?
In The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Peter Rabbit’s mom warns Peter and his sister not to go into Mr. McGregor’s garden because Peter Rabbit’s father had an accident there and was put into a pie by Mrs. McGregor.
‘Now my dears,’ said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, ‘you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don’t go into Mr. McGregor’s garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.’
What Reading Level Is The Tale Of Peter Rabbit?
The Tale of Peter Rabbit is perfect for children between the ages of 3 and 5.
Who Are Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail?
Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail are Peter Rabbits’ three little bunny sisters in the story.
Did Beatrix Potter Do Her Own Illustrations?
Yes, she did! She enjoyed drawing so much that she illustrated her own versions of classic bedtime fairy tales such as Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland.
What Order Should I Read The Beatrix Potter Books In?
There are 23 books in the Peter Rabbit Collection.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902)
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin (1903)
The Tailor of Gloucester (1903)
The Tale of Benjamin Bunny (1904)
The Tale of Two Bad Mice (1904)
The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (1905)
The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan (1905)
The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher (1906)
The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit (1906)
The Story of Miss Moppet (1906)
The Tale of Tom Kitten (1907)
The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck (1908)
The Tale of Samuel Whiskers or, The Roly-Poly Pudding (1908)
The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies (1909)
The Tale of Ginger and Pickles (1909)
The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse (1910)
The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes (1911)
The Tale of Mr. Tod (1912)
The Tale of Pigling Bland (1913)
Appley Dapply’s Nursery Rhymes (1917)
The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse (1918)
Cecily Parsley’s Nursery Rhymes (1922)
The Tale of Little Pig Robinson (1930)
Wikipedia | Beatrix Potter
How Many Peter Rabbit Movies Are There?
To date, there are two Peter Rabbit Movies with rumors of a third one possibly being in the pipeline. The first movie was released in 2018 and the second one was released in 2021. Both movies were based on the original Peter Rabbit characters created by Beatrix Potter but they don’t follow the original stories. Both the movies take place in a more modern setting with Mr. McGregor’s great-nephew being the main character after Mr. McGregor dies.
Peter Rabbit Official Trailer | Sony Pictures
Conclusion
The Tale Of Peter Rabbit is a wonderful bedtime story to share with young children and toddlers. It is a true classic that was beautifully illustrated by Beatrix Potter herself. You can download a copy of The Tale Of Peter Rabbit PDF here to share with your kids and if they enjoy it, you can also download The Tale Of Benjamin Bunny PDF which is the sequel to Peter’s adventure!
