The Adventures of Peter Cottontail
By Thornton W. Burgess
Published 1914
The story begins with Peter Rabbit feeling very dissatisfied with his "common" name. He decides to change it to Peter Cottontail because he thinks it sounds more impressive. However, he soon finds out that a fancy name does not change who he is or keep him out of trouble!
Once he has his new name, Peter faces several dangerous tricks from Reddy Fox. Reddy is very hungry and tries many different ways to sneak up on Peter. Fortunately, Peter has wonderful friends like Blacky the Crow and Johnny Chuck who keep a sharp eye out. They shout warnings to Peter just in time to keep him safe from Reddy's clever traps.
As the weather begins to turn cold, Peter becomes very curious about how the other animals prepare for the "Hard Times" of winter. He watches Johnny Chuck eating constantly to get fat and wonders why. He sees Ol' Mistah Buzzard flying away and Happy Jack Squirrel hiding nuts. Peter even tries to prepare for a "long sleep" himself, only to realize that a rabbit's job in winter is to stay awake and stay fast!
Main Themes: Honesty, Self-Acceptance, Curiosity
Nature & Character Connection
The Power of a Warning: Animal Communication
In the story, Peter stays safe because Blacky the Crow watches from the treetops and calls out a warning. In the real world, crows and blue jays are like the "alarm system" of the forest. When they see a predator like a fox or a hawk, they make a very specific, loud noise. Other animals, like rabbits and woodchucks, listen to these calls to know when to hide. This teaches students how different species work together in a community to stay safe.
Camouflage and the "Freeze" Defense
Reddy Fox tries many tricks to catch Peter, but Peter’s best defense is often just staying still. Because a rabbit’s fur matches the brown and gray colors of the earth, he can "disappear" by not moving. In science, we call this cryptic coloration. As long as Peter stays still in the Briar-patch, Reddy’s eyes have a very hard time finding him among the shadows and sticks.
The Science of Staying Awake
Peter is very confused when he sees Johnny Chuck getting ready for a "long sleep" (hibernation). In nature, rabbits are "active" all year. They do not store food in holes like squirrels, and they do not sleep all winter like woodchucks. Instead, their fur grows thicker to keep them warm, and they eat the bark and twigs that other animals ignore. This helps children understand that there are many different ways to survive a cold winter.
Simple Activity Ideas
The Sentinel Game: Have one student be the "Crow" on a chair (the lookout) and one be "Peter" on the floor. When a "Fox" starts to sneak up, the Crow must caw to tell Peter to hide!
Winter Habitats: Give students cotton balls (snow) and brown paper (earth). Have them create a "winter home" for Johnny Chuck (under the cotton) and a "winter home" for Peter (on top of the cotton in the bushes).
The Name Tag Craft: Have students decorate two name tags. One with a "fancy" name and one with their real name. Discuss why their real name is the one their friends know and love best.
Discussion Prompts
On Friendship: How did Blacky the Crow and Johnny Chuck help Peter? Why is it important to look out for your friends?
On Being Grand: Why did Peter think a new name would make him better? Did the name change help him when Reddy Fox was chasing him?
On Curiosity: Peter was very interested in why Johnny Chuck was eating so much clover. Why is it a good idea to ask questions about how our friends live?
Morals & Values Learned
Loyalty: We see that true friends look out for one another when there is danger.
Gratitude: Peter learns to be thankful for his friends and his safe home in the Briar-patch.
Acceptance: Peter discovers that being a rabbit is a wonderful thing and he does not need to copy the woodchucks or the birds.
Truthfulness: The story shows that being honest about who you are is much better than pretending to be someone "fancier."
Public Domain Notice: The original text of this book is in the public domain. Site layout, study guides, and supplemental materials are © burgess-books.com.
