Creepy Carrots
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Summary
Creepy Carrots is a humorous and slightly spooky tale about Jasper Rabbit, who loves eating carrots from Crackenhopper Field—until he begins to suspect that the carrots are following him. Everywhere Jasper goes, he thinks he sees creepy carrots watching him, until he comes up with a clever plan to keep them away. But in the twist ending, it turns out the carrots have been plotting all along. This playful story combines suspense, surprise, and humor while inviting children to reflect on fear, imagination, fairness, and clever problem-solving.
Guidelines for Discussion
Creepy Carrots offers a lighthearted way to explore serious questions that children often grapple with: What does it mean to be afraid? How do we know when our fears are real or imagined? What makes something fair, especially when our wants conflict with the needs of others? And what counts as a good solution to a problem?
One central theme is fear and imagination. Jasper’s fears about the carrots may not be grounded in reality, but they still feel real to him. Facilitators can help children reflect on the power of imagination—how it can both enrich our lives and sometimes cause us to worry. Philosophically, this raises questions about the difference between appearance and reality, and how we decide whether to trust our perceptions.
Another theme is fairness and desire. Jasper wants to take as many carrots as he likes, but the carrots want to protect themselves. This sets up a natural discussion about fairness: Is it fair for Jasper to take unlimited carrots? Do the carrots have a “right” to defend themselves? These questions connect to bigger ideas about responsibility and how we balance our own wants with the needs of others.
The book also highlights problem-solving and creativity. Jasper’s idea of building a fence to keep the carrots in is clever—but it also gives the carrots exactly what they want. Facilitators can ask whether this counts as a good solution, and what makes a solution fair, smart, or effective.
Finally, the story can spark reflection on perspective-taking. Seeing the world from the carrots’ point of view flips the story’s logic and invites children to consider how things look different depending on where you stand. This is a playful way to introduce empathy: trying to understand the thoughts and feelings of others, even when they are “just” carrots.
Altogether, Creepy Carrots blends fun and suspense with philosophical entry points into fear, fairness, problem-solving, and empathy. Facilitators can use the story to help children reflect on their own fears and desires while considering how imagination shapes our understanding of the world.
Discussion Questions
Fear and Imagination
- Why was Jasper so scared of the carrots?
- Can something be scary even if it isn’t real?
- Have you ever been afraid of something that turned out to be harmless?
Fairness and Desire
- Was it fair for Jasper to take as many carrots as he wanted?
- Do the carrots have a right to protect themselves?
- How do we decide what is fair when two sides want different things?
Problem-Solving
- Was Jasper’s plan a good solution? Why or why not?
- What makes a solution fair or unfair?
- Can a clever idea still be unfair?
Perspective-Taking
- How does the story change when we think about it from the carrots’ point of view?
- Why might the carrots have been scared of Jasper?
- How does imagining someone else’s perspective help us understand them better?
Suggested Activity: Design a Carrot Trap
To build on the humor and twist of the story, invite students to take on the role of either Jasper or the carrots and come up with a creative plan to outsmart the other side. Begin by revisiting Jasper’s fence-building strategy and pointing out how it ended up helping the carrots. Then ask students to imagine: If you were Jasper, what new plan would you make to keep the carrots from following you? If you were a carrot, what clever trick would you use to protect yourself from Jasper?
Provide students with paper and drawing supplies, and encourage them to sketch their design for a “Carrot Trap” or “Rabbit Trap.” Remind them that their ideas can be as realistic, silly, or imaginative as they like—the goal is to think creatively about problem-solving and fairness. As they work, facilitators can circulate and ask questions such as: How does your design solve the problem? Is it fair? Who benefits most from your solution?
Once students have finished their designs, create time for sharing in small groups or as a whole class. Invite each student to explain their idea and why they think it would work. Conclude with a reflective discussion: What makes a solution fair or unfair? Do clever solutions always solve the problem, or can they sometimes create new ones? This activity reinforces the story’s playful spirit while encouraging deeper thinking about fairness, creativity, and perspective-taking.
About the Prindle Institute
As one of the largest collegiate ethics institutes in the country, the Prindle Institute for Ethics’ uniquely robust national outreach mission serves DePauw students, faculty and staff; academics and scholars throughout the United States and in the international community; life-long learners; and the Greencastle community in a variety of ways. In 2019, the Prindle Institute partrnered with Thomas Wartenberg and became the digital home of his Teaching Children Philosophy discussion guides.
Further Resources
Some of the books on this site may contain characterizations or illustrations that are culturally insensitive or inaccurate. We encourage educators to visit the Association for Library Service to Children’s resource guide for talking to children about issues of race and culture in literature. They also have a guide for navigating tough conversations. PBS Kids’ set of resources for talking to young children about race and racism might also be useful for educators.
Philosophy often deals with big questions like the existence of a higher power or death. Find tips for leading a philosophical discussion on our resources page.
