Rabbits

Hop into the best stories about rabbits on Ririro—from Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny to the Velveteen Rabbit and the famous Hare and Tortoise—all free to read online, filter by age or story type, and explore our article for inspiration.

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Stories About Rabbits — Picture Books, Bedtime Tales and Classic Fables

Few animals appear in children’s books quite as often—or as charmingly—as the rabbit. Curious, quick, sometimes naughty and sometimes wise, bunnies have hopped through fairy tales, fables and picture books for centuries, from Beatrix Potter’s mischievous Peter Rabbit to the soft-eared hero of The Velveteen Rabbit. On Ririro you’ll find a warm collection of free stories about rabbits in English—classic Aesop fables, Panchatantra moral tales, Brer Rabbit folktales, gentle Uncle Wiggily bunny adventures and cosy bedtime reads. Whether you’re hunting for a short picture-book tale for a toddler or a longer chapter book for a confident reader, rabbits are some of the most loveable characters in all of children’s literature.

Top Stories About Rabbits Every Child Should Read

If you’re new to rabbit stories—or simply looking for the very best to read aloud tonight—start with these eight classics. They are the bunny tales children come back to again and again, the ones worth keeping on the bookshelf and passing down to the next generation.

1. The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Beatrix Potter’s iconic story of a naughty little rabbit who sneaks into Mr. McGregor’s garden, loses his jacket, and only just escapes home. A perfect bedtime picture-book tale for preschoolers and kindergarteners, this short classic is funny, gently moral and quite possibly the most famous rabbit story ever written.

2. The Velveteen Rabbit
Margery Williams’ tender tale of a stuffed toy rabbit who longs to become Real through the love of a little boy. Magical, bittersweet and unforgettable, The Velveteen Rabbit remains one of the most loved children’s classics in English—a gentle bedtime story about love, friendship and what it really means to be real.

3. The Hare and the Tortoise
Aesop’s beloved rabbit and tortoise story, in which an overconfident hare loses a race to a slow but steady turtle. A perfect short fable for ages five and up, this one-minute read teaches the timeless lesson that patience and persistence beat arrogance every time—a classroom favourite for good reason.

4. The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
Another Beatrix Potter classic from the Peter Rabbit world—a charming, slightly suspenseful bedtime story about a hopeful duck and the smooth-talking fox who plots against her. With a guest appearance from the farm dogs (and a satisfying ending), it’s a wonderful read-aloud picture book for children aged five to seven.

5. The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies
A direct sequel to Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny, this Beatrix Potter favourite follows Benjamin’s sleepy litter—the Flopsy Bunnies—as they nap in Mr. McGregor’s lettuce patch and find themselves in unexpected trouble. Funny, gentle and just exciting enough for preschoolers, it’s a classic short picture book that reads beautifully aloud.

6. The Lion and the Rabbit
This short Panchatantra fable from India tells of a clever rabbit who outwits a fierce lion and saves the forest with nothing but his wits. A brilliant moral story for ages five to eight, it’s a perfect introduction to Indian folk tales and a wonderful classroom example of how brains can beat brawn.

7. Alice in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll’s enchanted classic begins, of course, with a White Rabbit muttering “I’m late, I’m late!” and disappearing down a hole—pulling Alice into one of the most famous adventures in children’s literature. A magical longer read for confident readers aged eight and up, full of wordplay, dream logic and unforgettable rabbit-led nonsense.

8. The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
The direct sequel to Peter Rabbit, in which Peter and his cheeky cousin Benjamin sneak back into Mr. McGregor’s garden to retrieve Peter’s lost jacket. Beatrix Potter at her funniest—short, mischievous and just the right length for a bedtime picture book for ages four to six.

Rabbit Bedtime Stories

Bunnies are the quintessential bedtime animal—soft, gentle and easy to imagine curled up in a warm burrow. These rabbit bedtime stories are calm, beautifully paced and perfect for winding down at the end of the day. Every story is free to read online, with many available as audio for sleepy listening too.

1. Bunny Don’t Whine
Saskia Barink’s gentle two-minute bedtime tale about a little rabbit who learns there are better ways to ask for help than whining. Warm, funny and ideal for toddlers and preschoolers, it’s a short picture-book length story with a soft moral about kindness and patience.

2. The Moon Rabbit (Jade Rabbit)
A beautiful Chinese and Japanese folk tale about a kind rabbit who sacrifices himself to help a stranger—and is rewarded with a home on the moon. A peaceful bedtime read for ages four to eight, this short legend gently weaves together kindness, karma and a touch of wonder.

3. The Tale of Mr. Tod
One of Beatrix Potter’s longer and more exciting bedtime stories, this tale brings Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny back to rescue stolen baby rabbits from a sly fox. Slightly more thrilling than the earlier Peter Rabbit books, it’s a wonderful read for ages six to eight.

4. Rabbit Has a Busy Day
From A.A. Milne’s classic Winnie the Pooh, this longer chapter follows the ever-organised Rabbit through one of his busiest days in the Hundred Acre Wood. A warm, slightly silly bedtime read—perfect for children who already love Pooh.

Short Rabbit Fables

Long before bunnies starred in picture books, they were fable creatures—small, quick-thinking heroes pitted against bigger and slower enemies. These short rabbit fables each wrap a clear moral into just a few paragraphs, making them perfect for classrooms, bedtime, and quick conversation-starters.

1. The Rabbit and the Wolf
A short Ririro fable about a dancing rabbit who underestimates a hungry wolf—until his quick wits save the day. A funny, fast-moving moral story for ages five to eight, complete with a satisfying lesson about staying alert.

2. The Elephant and the Rabbit
Another Panchatantra-style fable in which a small clever rabbit outsmarts a much larger elephant by pretending to be a messenger from the moon. A short, smart story about cleverness and confidence for kindergarten and early-elementary readers.

3. The Rabbit Who Was Afraid
Carolyn Sherwin Bailey’s five-minute moral tale about a nervous bunny who panics over a falling leaf and starts a forest-wide stampede. A funny but pointed story about fear, rumour and stopping to think—great for second and third graders.

4. The Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings
Another Carolyn Sherwin Bailey gem—a gentle moral story about a little rabbit who wishes to be something he is not, and learns to love himself just as he is. A wonderful five-minute read for ages five to eight about contentment and self-worth.

Rabbit Picture Books

Sometimes you only have five minutes—and five minutes is plenty for a great bunny tale. These short rabbit stories and picture books are quick reads that still feel complete, perfect for a preschool circle time, a car-ride audio listen, or a last story before lights out.

1. Brer Rabbit (Full Book)
Joel Chandler Harris’s collected adventures of the cleverest rabbit in American folklore. Brer Rabbit dodges Brer Fox and Brer Bear again and again with quick thinking and a smile—classic short folk tales that read beautifully aloud and work brilliantly as chapter book reading for first and second graders.

2. The Mad March Hare
Laura Rountree Smith’s funny five-minute story about the eccentric March Hare and his very strange spring weather. Audio is available too, making it a lovely listen for ages five to seven.

3. Raggedy Andy and the Rabbit Chase
Johnny Gruelle’s classic Easter-themed short tale featuring Raggedy Andy, a runaway bunny, and a basket of Easter eggs. A charming ten-minute story with audio—perfect for spring read-alouds and Easter morning.

More Bunny Characters to Discover

Ririro’s collection of rabbit stories stretches far beyond the classics. You’ll also find dozens of Uncle Wiggily bunny adventures, Brer Rabbit folktales and original Ririro tales scattered across the site:

  • Uncle Wiggily — Howard R. Garis’s much-loved series about a kind old rabbit gentleman, with dozens of short bedtime tales ideal for preschool and kindergarten
  • Beatrix Potter — Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, the Flopsy Bunnies, Mr. Tod and the rest of the original picture-book classics
  • A.A. Milne — classic Winnie The Pooh stories featuring his friend Rabbit.

Browse Rabbit Stories by Age and Type

Looking for a rabbit story matched to a specific reading level? Use the filter links below to find bunny tales by age group or story type, or pair rabbits with their forest neighbours to build a wider animal-story reading list.