The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies
Beatrix Potter (1866–1943)
story · 1909 · 6 min read
How we estimate the level
We compare average sentence length and book vocabulary with the course words through this level. This is an estimate, not a test of your level.
Synopsis
Benjamin Bunny has grown up and married his cousin Flopsy, and their many children are known as the Flopsy Bunnies. After eating too many lettuces from Mr. McGregor's rubbish heap, the little rabbits fall asleep, and Mr. McGregor puts all six into a sack. A wood mouse called Thomasina Tittlemouse nibbles a hole in it, and the parents fill the empty sack with old vegetables, so Mr. and Mrs. McGregor get a very angry surprise at home.
About this book
This is a sequel to Peter Rabbit: Peter now has his own garden, and Benjamin is a father. The estimated level is A2. Most sentences are short (fewer than ten words on average) and the story moves in small, clear steps. The famous first line plays with one difficult word, soporific, and then hints at its meaning with a joke, which is a good model for the whole book: let the story help you guess the hard words. The dialogue includes Mr. McGregor's country accent, such as 'leetle' for little.
Opening excerpt
It is said that the effect of eating too much lettuce is "soporific." I have never felt sleepy after eating lettuces; but then I am not a rabbit. They certainly had a very soporific effect upon the Flopsy Bunnies!Key vocabulary
making you feel sleepy
a green leaf vegetable used in salads
a pile of things that people have thrown away
a large, strong bag
sleep, especially deep sleep
to eat or bite something with very small bites
a large green vegetable, like a very big zucchini (courgette)
a long coat without sleeves
Lines from the book
“It is said that the effect of eating too much lettuce is "soporific."”“But Mrs. Tittlemouse was a resourceful person.”“One, two, three, four, five, six leetle rabbits!”About the author
Beatrix Potter (1866–1943) was an English writer, illustrator and naturalist. Her Peter Rabbit books grew into a family of stories in which the same animals meet again, grow up and have children of their own. She spent her later life farming in the Lake District.
Frequently asked questions
What level of English do I need for The Flopsy Bunnies?
We estimate A2. The sentences are short and the events are easy to follow. A few words, such as soporific, are hard, but you can follow the story without knowing all of them.
Do I need to read Peter Rabbit first?
No, but it helps. The Flopsy Bunnies are the children of Peter's cousin Benjamin and his sister Flopsy, and the story happens near the same garden.
How long does it take to read?
The story has about 1,100 words. Most learners read it in about six minutes.
Is this the original text?
Yes. It is Beatrix Potter's original text from 1909, with British spelling. The edition contains the text without the pictures.
