SECOND READING: TEXT AND VOCABULARY – THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT

 

As you read the text, you’ll notice on each page that Miss Potter has skillfully matched her illustrations to the text. There are some great vocabulary words to highlight. Look for clues in both the illustrations and the text that might help to explain the highlighted vocabulary.

 

Pages 7 – 9:

~Why might mother be telling the little rabbits not to go into Mr. McGregor’s garden? Make a prediction based on what we saw in the illustrations during the First Reading.

 

Pages 12 – 28:

*If you notice any details in the illustration or the text that might help explain the highlighted vocabulary words, point it out to your listener.

~On page 12, mischief: minor trouble, misbehavior. – What’s another word that we could use in place of mischief that means the same thing? (If your listener doesn’t have any ideas, try: trouble or danger.)

~On page 15, currants: small, seedless grapes. Why did Mrs. Rabbit buy five currant buns?

~On page 19, naughty: behaving disobediently. On page 19, why is Peter described as naughty?

~On page 23, we’re told what Peter eats in Mr. McGregor’s garden. Can you find each vegetable in the illustration?

~On page 24, why would Peter be looking for some parsley if he is feeling sick? (Parsley can soothe an upset stomach.)

~Why is Mr. McGregor calling Peter a thief? Do you think that Peter is a thief?

 

Pages 31 – 32:

~On page 31, dreadfully: extremely unpleasant. How frightened is Peter? Can we think of a word that would mean the same as dreadfully?  (We can infer that Peter is very, very frightened since Mr. McGregor killed his father. Words that mean the same as dreadfully: horribly, terribly, or awfully.)

 

Pages 35 – 39:

~On page 35, implored: begged, urged.

exert: use great power or effort.

What might the birds be doing if they implored Peter to exert himself?

~On page 39, sieve: a tool made of wire mesh used for straining. Look for the sieve in the illustration on page 38.

~Why does Peter leave his jacket behind?

 

Pages 40 – 47:

The suspense builds as Mr. McGregor searches for Peter!

~On page 43, kertyschoo: Miss Potter made up this word to sound like a sneeze. What might have caused Peter to sneeze, “Kertyschoo!”

 

Pages 48 – 51:

~On page 48, lippity: created by Miss Potter to sound like slow hopping. Why is Peter going “lippity – lippity” instead of racing away?

~Why might Peter be crying?

 

Pages 52 – 60:

~What might Benjamin Bunny have told Peter about cats?

~On page 55, Miss Potter, has used words that are made up to represent sounds. What are they? (scritch, scratch)

~On page 55, scuttered: to move with a clattering sound. What does scuttered mean? What words could we use in place of scuttered? Use the picture and the sense of the text to help.

~On page 59, currant: a small, seedless grape. We see the word currant again. Do you remember what it means?

~On page 60, do you think Mr. McGregor’s scarecrow is frightening the birds? Why or why not?

 

Pages 63 – 69:

~On page 64, how do you think Peter lost his other jacket and pair of shoes?

~fortnight: two weeks. What would your mother think if you lost two sets of clothes in a fortnight?

~On page 67, camomile tea: drink made from camomile leaves and flowers. What do you think camomile tea is? Can you find the words that tell you it might be like a medicine?