Slide 1 Brer Rabbit in Mr. Man’s Garden An African-American Tale What kinds of animals might visit a garden? What would you do if an animal came to your garden to eat your plants? Mr. Man had the finest garden around for miles. It was filled with scrumptious vegetables just waiting to be picked. The problem was that Mr. Man wanted to keep all the vegetables for himself. At least, he didn’t want to share them with Brer Rabbit. One morning, Brer Rabbit decided that it was high time that Mr. Man learned to share. The vegetables in his garden were abundant. And it was just plain unneighborly of Mr. Man to keep them to himself. So Brer Rabbit waited for Mr. Man to go off to town. “I’ll be back this afternoon,” Mr. Man said to his daughter, Miss Penny. “Mind the garden while I’m gone. Be sure that rascal Brer Rabbit doesn’t eat up all my tender young squash!” “Yes, Daddy,” said Miss Penny as she waved goodbye.

Slide 2 Brer Rabbit in Mr. Man’s Garden An African-American Tale (Cont.) As soon as Mr. Man drove away, Brer Rabbit hopped up onto the porch to introduce himself. “Hello, Little Miss Penny,” said Brer Rabbit. “My name is Pete Davis. I’m your daddy’s old friend. I saw him yesterday, and he told me to come on over and take some of those delicious green onions in the garden.” “As long as you’re not Brer Rabbit, and as long as you don’t take the ripe young squash, then you are welcome in our garden,” said Miss Penny. “I’ll tell my daddy that you stopped by.” And Miss Penny let Brer Rabbit into the garden where he took as many green onions as he could carry. When Mr. Man returned, he asked Miss Penny who had been in the garden. She told him that Mr. Pete Davis had been there, but she hadn’t seen hide nor hair of that rascal Brer Rabbit. The next day when Mr. Man went off to town, he told Miss Penny to watch the garden again. “Don’t let anyone take the squash or the green onions!” he said.

Slide 3 Brer Rabbit in Mr. Man’s Garden An African-American Tale (Cont.) Of course as soon as Mr. Man left for town, Brer Rabbit showed up on the porch again. “Hello, Miss Penny,” said Brer Rabbit. “I saw your daddy driving down the road. He told me that the tomatoes in your garden are not quite edible yet, but the carrots are just right. He said to be sure to help myself.” “Yes, sir,” said Miss Penny. “Help yourself to the carrots, just as Daddy said.” And Miss Penny let Brer Rabbit back into the garden where he took an armful of fresh carrots. Now when Mr. Man came back from town, he knew something wasn’t right. “Just what does Pete Davis look like?” he asked Miss Penny. “Why, he has long ears, a funny twitching nose, and a tail like a cotton puff,” said Miss Penny. “I knew it!” roared Mr. Man. “Brer Rabbit has been in my garden. I’ll get that clever rabbit!” So Mr. Man fixed up a box trap and put it smack in the middle of his big beautiful vegetable garden. Then he concealed it with some leaves.

Slide 4 Brer Rabbit in Mr. Man’s Garden An African-American Tale (Cont.) The next day when Brer Rabbit came back to the garden, he saw a sign on the gate that said, “Help yourself to squash!” So Brer Rabbit walked right into the garden. Just as he was reaching for the best squash on the vine, he bumped into the trap. SNAP! The box fell on him. Brer Rabbit sat inside the box, worrying about what would happen when he was found. Suddenly, he heard someone sniffi ng outside the box. “Brer Fox?” called Brer Rabbit. “Is that you?” “It’s me, Brer Rabbit,” said Brer Fox. “Why are you in a box?” “Well, I tell you, Brer Fox,” said Brer Rabbit. “Mr. Man has trapped me in here, and he’s making me eat as much stew as I can stand. You better run before he does the same to you!” “Stew? I love stew!” said Brer Fox. Then using all of his might, Brer Fox pried open the box and scrambled in. Brer Rabbit scrambled out. The trap door slammed shut with Brer Fox inside. Imagine how surprised Mr. Man was when he found Brer Fox inside the box! Mr. Man chased Brer Fox around the garden, but he never caught him. And Brer Rabbit? Why, he laughed and laughed, and he ate tender young squash for dinner that night. Unit 5, Week 2 1. What things are abundant in our classroom? What things are not abundant? 2. Where would you conceal a present if you wanted to surprise a family member with it? 3. How do you know when peaches or plums are edible? 4. How would you introduce a new student to your friends? 5. How can you pry a can open? 6. What happens when fruits and vegetables become too ripe? 7. What foods do you think are scrumptious? 8. How can you tell if a baked potato is tender? 9. What animal has a twitching nose? 10. Why would it be unneighborly to blast loud music out the window late at night?