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The Tale of Peter Rabbit: a book club kit
Where it comes from. Beatrix Potter wrote and painted this little book in England in 1902. She first sent the story in a letter to a sick boy.
In short (for the leader; it gives the ending away). Peter Rabbit's mother tells her four little rabbits not to go into Mr. McGregor's garden. Peter goes anyway, eats lettuce, beans and radishes, and is chased all over the garden. He loses his shoes and his blue jacket, but escapes under the gate and runs home.
The lesson, in one line. It is smart to listen to good advice.
Reading plan. Read it together at the meeting: about 3 minutes aloud, or ahead of time at home.
Questions to talk about
- What is the moral of The Tale of Peter Rabbit?
The story's answer: It is smart to listen to good advice. Peter goes where his mother told him not to go, and he is chased and loses his clothes. - Who wrote The Tale of Peter Rabbit?
The story's answer: Beatrix Potter wrote and painted it in England. She first sent it in a letter to a sick boy in 1893, and it was published as a book in 1902. - What are the names of Peter Rabbit's sisters?
The story's answer: They are Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail. They are good little rabbits and go to pick blackberries. - What happens to Peter Rabbit's blue jacket?
The story's answer: It gets caught in a net, and Peter wriggles out and leaves it behind. Mr. McGregor puts it on a scarecrow along with his shoes. - Which character changed the most from the beginning to the end?
Listen for: Ask what changed them. - Which scene would you put on the poster if this were a film?
Listen for: A way to find the scene that mattered most to each reader.
Did you know?
- Beatrix Potter wrote and painted it in England and published it in 1902.
- She first sent the story in a letter to a sick boy in 1893.
- Peter's sisters are named Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail.
Activity: Cast the film
Choose who would play each character, draw the poster with your scene on it, and give the film a one-line tagline.
More to talk about
More facts for the leader
- Mr. McGregor hangs Peter's blue jacket and shoes on a scarecrow.
Words to teach before you start
- naughty: not good
- lettuce: leafy green
- radishes: small red roots
- parsley: a green herb
- sparrows: small brown birds
- sieve: a strainer
- scarecrow: pretend farmer
Questions leaders ask
How long does a The Tale of Peter Rabbit book club meeting take?
Reading it aloud takes about 3 minutes in all, so plan one meeting of 30 to 45 minutes, with time left for the questions. The reading plan on the sheet says where to stop.
What age is The Tale of Peter Rabbit for?
It is written at Peabody level 7, a grade 2 reading level, so most children at that level can read it alone. Younger children can listen to it read aloud.
Do the children need to read it before the meeting?
No. Each child can read it free on Peabody, before the meeting or together at it, and the questions work either way. The sheet's short version gives the ending away, so keep it for the leader.
How do I use the questions?
Start with the story's own questions, which have answers in the leader's notes, then move to the open ones and listen for reasons. There is no wrong answer to an open question. Stop when the group runs out of things to say.
Club kits for stories like this
- The Little Blue Engine (level 7)
- How the Camel Got His Hump (level 8)
- The Elephant's Child (level 8)
- Peter Pan (level 10)
- The Case of the Missing Mangoes (level 10)
- The Wizard of Oz (level 10)
How this kit is made
The short version, the facts and the first questions with their answers are the story's own, written for its page in Peabody's library and checked against the sources named there. The open questions, the activity and the plan are Peabody's, written for this kind of story. No part of it is written by a computer model.
Running the meeting: the meeting plans (30, 45 and 60 minutes) and the sign-up sheet.