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The Tale Of Squirrel Nutkin is the second Beatrix Potter book written in The Tale Of Peter Rabbit series. It was published in 1903 and was hugely successful! This Beatrix Potter bedtime story is just as cute, and just as beautifully illustrated as The Tale Of Peter Rabbit. Just like Peter Rabbit, the Squirrel Nutkin story first appeared in letters that Beatrix Potter sent to the daughter of her former governess.
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The Tale Of Squirrel Nutkin PDF
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Is The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin PDF Free To Download?
Yes, it is! Beatrix Potter published the book in 1903 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 Squirrel Nutkin Narration
The Tale Of Squirrel Nutkin Q&A
Squirrel Nutkin – Story Summary
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin story follows the adventures of Peter Rabbit’s friend Squirrel Nutkin. Squirrel Nutkin is a naughty little red squirrel who lives in the wood at the edge of a lake with his brother Twinkelberry. In Autumn, the squirrels collect nuts from an island in the middle of the lake where they live. This island is called Owl Island because it is home to an owl called Old Brown.
They visit Owl Island every day for six days and each time they bring gifts to Old Brown and politely ask for his permission to collect nuts. Unlike his Twinkelberry and the other squirrels, Squirrel Nutkin does not treat Old Brown with very much respect.
Every day, Squirrel Nutkin taunts poor Old Brown with riddles and songs. Old Brown ignores him and doesn’t even try to solve the riddles. However, on the sixth day, Squirrel Nutkin becomes annoyed that Old Brown ignores his riddles so he jumps onto Old Brown’s head. Old Brown is furious and grabs Squirrel Nutkin. He takes him inside and, holding him up by his tail, intends to skin him! Squirrel Nutkin manages to pull loose from Old Brown’s grip but in the process, his tail is broken in two. Luckily he is able to escape but after that, he no longer loves riddles!
What Reading Level Is The Tale Of Squirrel Nutkin?
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin is the ideal children’s bedtime story for kids between the ages of 3 and 5.
Answers To Squirrel Nutkin’s Riddles
In Beatrix Potter’s book, Squirrel Nutkin poses a number of riddles to Old Brown. For each Riddle, Beatrix Potter herself gives the answer to each one! She includes the answer to each riddle in italics before or after the actual riddle itself.
Riddle 1 – Cherry
“Riddle me, riddle me, rot-tot-tote!
A little wee man, in a red red coat!
A staff in his hand, and a stone in his throat;
If you’ll tell me this riddle, I’ll give you a groat.”
Riddle 2 – Nettle
“Old Mr. B! Riddle-me-ree!
Hitty Pitty within the wall,
Hitty Pitty without the wall;
If you touch Hitty Pitty,
Hitty Pitty will bite you!”
Riddle 3 – Smoke
“A house full, a hole full!
And you cannot gather a bowl-full!”
Riddle 4 – Plum-Pudding
“Old Mr. B! riddle-me-ree
Flour of England, fruit of Spain,
Met together in a shower of rain;
Put in a bag tied round with a string,
If you’ll tell me this riddle, I’ll give you a ring!”
Riddle 5 – Bees
“Hum-a-bum! buzz! buzz! Hum-a-bum buzz!
As I went over Tipple-tine
I met a flock of bonny swine;
Some yellow-nacked, some yellow backed!
They were the very bonniest swine
That e’er went over Tipple-tine.”
Riddle 6 – Egg
“Humpty Dumpty lies in the beck,
With a white counterpane round his neck,
Forty doctors and forty wrights,
Cannot put Humpty Dumpty to rights!”
Riddle 7 – Sunbeam
“Old Mr. B! Old Mr. B!
Hickamore, Hackamore, on the King’s kitchen door;
All the King’s horses, and all the King’s men,
Couldn’t drive Hickamore, Hackamore,
Off the King’s kitchen door.”
Riddle 8 – Wind
“Arthur O’Bower has broken his band,
He comes roaring up the land!
The King of Scots with all his power,
Cannot turn Arthur of the Bower!”
Conclusion
The Tale Of Squirrel Nutkin is a wonderful sequel to the Peter Rabbit bedtime story and it is perfect for toddlers and small children. It is a true classic that was beautifully illustrated by Beatrix Potter herself. You can download a copy of The Tale Of Squirrel Nutkin PDF here to share with your kids.
