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Out of the Egg
In this version of the familiar tale, when the barnyard animals who refused to help her plant and tend a seed ask to play under the "great green whispery tree" that Little Red Hen grew, she says no, but her chick thinks that answer is mean. 25,000 first printing.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 6, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 16, 2022
The Little Red Hen has found a green seed!
She asks her neighbours if they will help her plant the seed?
‘Not I,’ said the Fat Cat
‘Not I,’ said the Dirty Rat
And the Greedy Pig wasn’t any help either.
Little Red Hen decides to do the job herself. She gets the same response when the sun is baking the ground and the seed needs watering. She get’s the same answer from her neighbours when the seed grows into a sapling, and then when weeds are growing around it.
Little Red hen asks for help but still receives none. She does all the work herself until the seed grows into a sapling then into a strong tree. It’s a beautiful tree, providing shade and shelter. Enough even to lay an egg of her own.
Out of the Egg comes a smaller Red Hen. The neighbours have been busy too, and a young kitten, rat and piglet come visiting, keen to play under the tree...
Now if you think you know this story, there is a surprise in store for you. Along with the age old message in this story of the benefits of hard work and we reap what we sow, there is a modern twist of acceptance, kindness and giving.
Out of the Egg is bilingual with both English and Te Reo Maori on every page as you travel through the story. It is also available in English/Samoan.
This is a wonderful retelling of the classic, The Little Red Hen originally by Mary Mapes Dodge in 1874.
She asks her neighbours if they will help her plant the seed?
‘Not I,’ said the Fat Cat
‘Not I,’ said the Dirty Rat
And the Greedy Pig wasn’t any help either.
Little Red Hen decides to do the job herself. She gets the same response when the sun is baking the ground and the seed needs watering. She get’s the same answer from her neighbours when the seed grows into a sapling, and then when weeds are growing around it.
Little Red hen asks for help but still receives none. She does all the work herself until the seed grows into a sapling then into a strong tree. It’s a beautiful tree, providing shade and shelter. Enough even to lay an egg of her own.
Out of the Egg comes a smaller Red Hen. The neighbours have been busy too, and a young kitten, rat and piglet come visiting, keen to play under the tree...
Now if you think you know this story, there is a surprise in store for you. Along with the age old message in this story of the benefits of hard work and we reap what we sow, there is a modern twist of acceptance, kindness and giving.
Out of the Egg is bilingual with both English and Te Reo Maori on every page as you travel through the story. It is also available in English/Samoan.
This is a wonderful retelling of the classic, The Little Red Hen originally by Mary Mapes Dodge in 1874.
April 14, 2019
A retelling of the Little Red Hen, Tina Matthews updates not only the illustrations, but the ending as well. The illustrations depict a mix of country and city elements complete with farm, apartment buildings, cars, computers, and telephone wires, yet the simple woodcuts in black, red, and green maintain the classic feel this tale requires.
For those who don’t remember the story, the Little Red Hen finds a seed, plants it, and cares for it. She asks Fat Cat, Dirty Rat, and Greedy Pig for help throughout the seasons, but “Not I,” they say each time. “Then I shall [insert task here] myself,” answers the Little Red Hen. Over the years, the seed grows into a large tree, providing a safe space for the Red Hen to lay her egg. Soon a little chick appears, as does a little cat, a little rat, and a little pig. When the Red Hen would deny the little cat, little rat, and little pig the chance to play beneath her shady tree, she learns a lesson in kindness from her cheeky little chick.
I don’t know if the title is a play on the phrase “out of the mouths of babes,” but that’s what I always think of when I relate the title to this book, for out of the egg came a little chick and out of her mouth comes true friendship.
For those who don’t remember the story, the Little Red Hen finds a seed, plants it, and cares for it. She asks Fat Cat, Dirty Rat, and Greedy Pig for help throughout the seasons, but “Not I,” they say each time. “Then I shall [insert task here] myself,” answers the Little Red Hen. Over the years, the seed grows into a large tree, providing a safe space for the Red Hen to lay her egg. Soon a little chick appears, as does a little cat, a little rat, and a little pig. When the Red Hen would deny the little cat, little rat, and little pig the chance to play beneath her shady tree, she learns a lesson in kindness from her cheeky little chick.
I don’t know if the title is a play on the phrase “out of the mouths of babes,” but that’s what I always think of when I relate the title to this book, for out of the egg came a little chick and out of her mouth comes true friendship.
July 4, 2024
Little Red Hen is one of my favorite tales. Story is not 'fractured' but rebuilt and expanded. Themes of "Unto the next generation" and "the Children shall Lead." Terrific art; don't miss the details like "Knot Eye." Highly recommended to all fans of traditional folk tales and fables, and to families. I read it twice in a row and will look for more by the author-illustrator.
See my Listopia for more Little Red Hen stories and please add any books that explore the theme, even if they are books for older children or adults. https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
See my Listopia for more Little Red Hen stories and please add any books that explore the theme, even if they are books for older children or adults. https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
December 26, 2017
Matthews, Tina Out of the Egg PICTURE BOOK Houghton Mifflin –
Every thinks they know the story of the Little Red Hen – but do you know what happened next? The Red Hen learns an important lesson from her own chick in this artfully done continuation of the classic. The Japanese wood block prints work just right to illustrate this story. Any elementary school and other schools with Teacher Advisory programs need to add this to their collections.
EL, MS – ADVISABLE
Every thinks they know the story of the Little Red Hen – but do you know what happened next? The Red Hen learns an important lesson from her own chick in this artfully done continuation of the classic. The Japanese wood block prints work just right to illustrate this story. Any elementary school and other schools with Teacher Advisory programs need to add this to their collections.
EL, MS – ADVISABLE
October 2, 2018
I liked this
Like the little red hen
Only different
Allows children opportunity to compare and contrast when they have opportunity to re-read and reflect
Great story
Age appropriate
Nice message
well done
Like the little red hen
Only different
Allows children opportunity to compare and contrast when they have opportunity to re-read and reflect
Great story
Age appropriate
Nice message
well done
March 31, 2022
Even as an adult, I find it hard not to hold grudges against others who treated me unfairly.
July 31, 2008
The story of The Little Red Hen has been one of my favorites since I was little. Out of the Egg is a charming twist on the classic story of hard work paying off and shirkers getting their just desserts.
The story proceeds in a familiar way for a while, with the industrious hen (who stands out bright red in the otherwise black-and-white woodcut illustrations) asking for help and getting nothing but backtalk from her animal friends.
The story begins to depart from the original when the hen lays an egg -- not only does the hen have a chick, but her sulky friends send their offspring snooping around. The hen has something all the little ones want, but instead of refusing to share with them (as she refuses their lazy parents in the original story), the baby animals all go home with a gift.
I just loved this. Loved the new elements in the story, loved the moral, loved the illustrations. I read a library copy, but I think I'm going to buy this book for my daughter's library -- she currently reads my childhood copy of The Little Red Hen, so I'm sure she'll love this new way of looking at the story.
The story proceeds in a familiar way for a while, with the industrious hen (who stands out bright red in the otherwise black-and-white woodcut illustrations) asking for help and getting nothing but backtalk from her animal friends.
The story begins to depart from the original when the hen lays an egg -- not only does the hen have a chick, but her sulky friends send their offspring snooping around. The hen has something all the little ones want, but instead of refusing to share with them (as she refuses their lazy parents in the original story), the baby animals all go home with a gift.
I just loved this. Loved the new elements in the story, loved the moral, loved the illustrations. I read a library copy, but I think I'm going to buy this book for my daughter's library -- she currently reads my childhood copy of The Little Red Hen, so I'm sure she'll love this new way of looking at the story.
April 20, 2013
I bought this book recently, having seen it in my local bookshop. To be honest, I wasn't initially drawn to it, but Lesley and Rochelle know what I like in a book, and got me to read it. I enjoyed the play on the telling of an old favourite - The Little Red Hen.
What surprised me was, when I took it to school as a Friday Favourite, and shared it with my two Y8 classes and one Y7 class, they LOVED it. When I bought it, there was a little red chick soft toy with it. This has since become the mascot of the classroom, and some of the children have designed little wardrobe pieces for it - crowns and special belts - I kid you not!
So, when we were working on a Top 50 books list for our school, this book was one of the first nominated.
The children REALLY liked the justice element in this story. That the little chick really taught Mamma Red Hen a thing or two about generosity went down very well. They also loved the illustrations.
A surprising winner, for me.
What surprised me was, when I took it to school as a Friday Favourite, and shared it with my two Y8 classes and one Y7 class, they LOVED it. When I bought it, there was a little red chick soft toy with it. This has since become the mascot of the classroom, and some of the children have designed little wardrobe pieces for it - crowns and special belts - I kid you not!
So, when we were working on a Top 50 books list for our school, this book was one of the first nominated.
The children REALLY liked the justice element in this story. That the little chick really taught Mamma Red Hen a thing or two about generosity went down very well. They also loved the illustrations.
A surprising winner, for me.
July 16, 2015
This book is about the Red Hen who planted a tree and fed it, watered it, and protected it all by herself. She asked many times for help from the fat cat, the dirty rat, and the greedy pig but they always said, "Not I" because they were lazy. This tree grew to be a big green tree with lovely green grass around it and this is where the Red Hen laid an egg. That is where the Little Red Hen came in to play. When the cat, rat and pig wanted to play the Red Hen said no but her little hen said that was mean and they forgave them and invited them to play. This can be used by a teacher or parent to teach children to help out and forgive others. There was not much color but the book was great in my opinion.
October 8, 2012
This is a variation of the classic Little Red Hen tale. The Red Hen plays a seed that grows into a big tree. The adult animals refuse to help the Little Red Hen take care of the tree. Towards the end, the little red hen has a baby chick. The baby animals of the ones who refused to help the little red hen, ask if they can play under the tree. The Red Hen says no. The little chick feels that is mean and lets them come in to play with her.
Simple and lovely illustrations with Japanese woodblock prints with red, green, black and white.
Simple and lovely illustrations with Japanese woodblock prints with red, green, black and white.
May 5, 2008
I usually don't enjoy reading The Little Red Hen because she's so mean and I don't like the lesson it conveys - kids should learn to rise above the pettiness and be bigger. This book is a beautifully illustrated, semi-urban setting, twist on the story of the Little Red Hen where her chick puts a stop to the meanness! Very cool.
June 1, 2011
THis was a cute twist on an old fable about the little red hen who worked and labored over a tree where her little egg could hatch. When summer came and the pig, rat and kitten wanted to play under the tree, the little red hen said not I, but the little chick invited them in and later sent them home with a green seed of their own.
November 1, 2008
Just when you think you know a story forward and backward, a rare treatments comes along and changes the tale forever. This time, it's for the best. The little red hen's very own chick teaches a lesson in kindness that trumps the "you get what you earn" fable.
January 29, 2012
What seems to be another retelling of the Little Red Hen becomes an original take in this small format picture book with big ideas. The "next generation" has something to teach the grudge-holding elders about resentment and open-minded acceptance.
March 26, 2013
A modern-day Little Red Hen story. Hen has to do everything herself because the other animals won't help. Instead of baking bread, she plants a tree, and in the end her chick teaches her to be kind instead of holding grudges.
May 31, 2013
An interesting book. Can't be certain if it's about refugees/immigration, conservation, sharing and kindness, or all of the above. Great book design and strangely subtle illustration, despite the bold contrast. Tightly and soundly written.
April 2, 2015
This is a very different Little Red Hen. In this version, there is an underlying green element to the illustrations. Also the conclusion is much more generous and hopeful. The differences may be appreciated more by older readers. A thoughtful book that will stimulate discussion.
February 16, 2016
A very different re-telling of The Little Red Hen. I'm not sure that my storytime crowd would get the joke at the end, though they would probably get the message about not being mean to the little ones just because their parents were lazy. I do love the woodcut illustrations in this book!
June 27, 2008
This was a very cute book. I enjoyed reading it. My 7 year old could read it by herself.
July 10, 2008
Twist on "Little Red Hen".
July 11, 2008
A version of the Little Red Hen.
January 29, 2010
I love the simplicity of the story and the pictures, a big contrast compared to Jerry Pinkney's "The Little Red Hen".
July 13, 2012
cute.
August 8, 2012
The little red hen with a twist.
September 20, 2012
the art is fantastic! reminds me of Reed Waller(?) on Omaha the cat-dancer.
simple lesson, hate doesn't need to be passed on, and is in fact a choice.
simple lesson, hate doesn't need to be passed on, and is in fact a choice.
September 25, 2012
A take on The Little Red Hen and it's a strange one. I think this was supposed to have a deeper meaning - environmental? corporate greed? don't be mean to kids just because their parents suck?
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January 14, 2013Little Red Hen re-telling.
January 31, 2013
44 months - Great illustrations, wood cut style but story is weak.
April 1, 2013
Good for beginning readers. Interesting story with good morals.
April 29, 2013
This new twist on The Little Red Hen has more than one lesson for us; forgiveness, stewardship, and doing our bit to help 'mother earth'.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews