Hoppy, the Bunny: Background for Reading and Expression (1953)

[Music] class we all gathered around to hear a story everyone was eager to hear it because PR about a little funny once there was a little budny he lived in the woods right here in this tree his name was hoppy my what a beautiful morning he said of course we all know that bunnies don't really talk but it's fun to pretend yeah yes it was a beautiful morning such a beautiful morning that hoppy felt Happy from the tip long ears to his funny Wiggly nose right on down to his Powderpuff tail he was going to have fun today so off he went to see what he could find singing hop hop hop I'm a funny little bunny and it's so much fun to hop hop hop through the woods all day it was nice to have such strong legs for hopping then he saw his neighbor Mr Raccoon good morning Mr Raccoon said hoppy good morning to you said Mr Raccoon would you like to share my breakfast with me no thank you said hoppy I'm busy busy doing what I'm going to look for places I've never seen before you'd better be careful you might get lost no I won't said hoppy yes you will no I won't well we'll see said Mr Raccoon and off he went hoppy hopped on through the woods then way up in an oak tree he saw Mr Owl of course Mr Owl was sleeping owl sleep during the day and Hunt food during the night hoppy was glad Mr Owl was asleep you see sometimes owls aren't friendly to bunnies so off hoppy went soon he came to his favorite Little Brook today it was laughing and splashing in the sunlight this is so good thought hoppy it made him feel even happier than he had felt before on this beautiful morning and off he hopped singing hop hop hop I'm a funny little bunny and it's so much fun to hop hop hop through the woods all day but then he stopped do you know what he had done he had found a place he had never seen before he had hopped himself right out of the woods everything looks so strange he had never been out of the woods before but he smelled something good and decided to hop through the fence and see what it was now hoppy didn't know it but he was going to visit a farm for the first time in his life there was a garden on the farm that's what smelled so good the Cabbage reminded hooby that he hadn't eaten breakfast yet and he decided to eat some then he tasted the green carrot leaves these are good he said then he saw something that would finish his meal just right fresh green beans they were delicious when he had finished eating he decided to have a look around my he thought this is a very interesting place I wonder what else I'll find here hoppy wanted to run and play with the chickens but the rooster said no it was time for the chickens to eat the chickens invited hoppy to eat with them but he had already eaten breakfast so he said no thank you and hopped away to see what else there was to see soon hoppy found another fence what would he find inside pigs that's what he found but do you think they wanted to talk to Hoppy no they were too busy eating hoppy said to them if you eat too much you'll get fat the pigs just laugh one white Pig said you silly bunny pigs are supposed to be fat they're not very friendly thought hoppy all they want to do is eat so he hopped off to see what else there was to see and do you know what he saw white bunnies inside a fence why they look something like me he thought except I'm brown one of the bunnies came over to say good morning to Hoppy good morning said hoppy do you live behind the fence oh yes we live in these nice houses the farmer built for us they are nice thought hoppy nicer than his hole in the tree trunk and look at the baby bunnies with their mother they're trying to learn to eat the way big bunnies do where do you get your food said Hoy well the farmer's children bring us good things to eat every day no one brings me food said hoppy I have to find it myself I like it here said hoppy may I move in with you yes you sir certainly may said the white bunny oh good hoppy said come out and let's play tag oh no the bunny said we have to play here we can't leave hoppy said you mean if I lived here with you I wouldn't be able to play with my friends in the woods anymore that's right the bunny said what was that oh don't let that bother you it's just old old Rover the white bunny said the dog said hoppy a dog chased me once and almost caught me now I'm sure I wouldn't like it here I'm leaving what do you think of that afraid of old Rover but hoppy was afraid and he'd forgotten where he came in closer the garden gate now hoppy knew the way home finally hoppy was in the woods and the dog was far away when he came to the brook he felt safe hoppy knew he was almost home when he saw Mr ow still sleeping in the oak tree Mr Raccoon said well did you find any place you'd never seen before did I said hoppy come over to my house and I'll tell you all about it Mr Raccoon said he'd do that later hop hop hop I'm a funny little bunny and it's so much fun to hop hop hop through the woods all day I've had such a wonderful time this morning hoppy said to himself but I learned a good lesson visiting new places is fun but there's nothing quite like being back home [Music] again that story was fun wasn't the children in our class enjoyed it and now they've all drawn pictures of hoppy pictures that show different parts of the story what part of the story did you like best wouldn't you like to tell and wouldn't you like to draw some pictures [Music] to