The Tale Of Squirrel Nutkin – Beatrix Potter

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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The Tale Of Squirrel Nutkin Q&A

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 6.

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

“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 1 Answer – Cherry

Riddle 2

“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 2 Answer – Nettle

Riddle 3

“A house full, a hole full!
And you cannot gather a bowl-full!”

Riddle 3 Answer – Smoke

Riddle 4

“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 4 Answer – Plum-Pudding

Riddle 5

“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 5 Answer – Bees

Riddle 6

“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 6 Answer – Egg

Riddle 7

“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 7 Answer – Sunbeam

Riddle 8

“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!”

Riddle 8 Answer – Wind

The Tale Of Squirrel Nutkin Narration

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!

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.

Next: The Tailor of Gloucester

Looking For More Children’s Bedtime Stories?
Beatrix Potter Book Collection
Children’s Fairy Tale Collection
Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales
Classic Children’s English Books