The Little Red Hen

by Lilian Obligado (Illustrator)

The little red hen finds none of her lazy friends willing to help her plant, harvest or grind wheat into flour or to prepare the dough or bake it, but all are eager to eat the bread she makes.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, Animals, Classics

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Karim Elmenshawy · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I will just have to eat this bread by myself"Doesn't she deserve the same?

[Rebecca Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Little Red Hen cannot find any of her friends to help her plant, harvest, or make dough for her bread. Though when the hen tells the other animals that the bread is all done and freshly baked, everyone wants a slice. This story gives such a good lesson for children and even some adults to learn. The book shows that everyone one needs to do their share and put in their part for the result. This story is more of the american version but if you start with this version and compare with your students the different versions from other countries, it would be very interesting to see the different foods the hen makes from the wheat.

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved the story of the Little Red Hen. It’s definitely an old favourite. This version was just as brilliant, with colourful pictures.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daphne read this with her great aunt Mary! I remember this book from my childhood.

[Mary]

An American Fable. It was first collected by Mary Mapes Dodge in St. Nicholas Magazine in 1874.

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this version the best as a kid. The story is well told, and the hen's three chicks and their interactions with mom add a pleasing, homey liveliness to the art.

[MK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this picture book with parents and children can teach children the importance of helping their mothers.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorites when I was little.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sounds like all the other versions, but the illustrations are more fun.

[Claire Kirchgessner · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Little Red Hen, written and illustrated by Lilian Obligado, farm animals are personified. On the farm is a Little Red Hen, who lives with her three chicks, a Pig, a Duck, and a Cat. One day, the Little Red Hen discovers a few grains of wheat. She asks the Cat, Duck, and Pig to help her plant the grains. All 3 of the animals reply "not I", and do not help the Little Red Hen. Throughout the story, the Little Red Hen has to perform tasks such as cut the wheat, take it to the miller, make it into dough, and finally bake it into bread. Each time, the Little Red Hen asks if the animals if they will help her, and each time, all the animals respond with "not I." At the end, when it comes time to eat the bread, of course the animals who were so reluctant to help before are eager to eat. The Little Red Hen tells them they can not eat the bread with her and her chicks, as they did not help her prepare anything else.

The Little Red Hen would be most appropriate for nursery to primary aged children. I think it is an excellent picture book. The author uses repetition to convey the animals reluctance ("not I" after every request.) The illustrator uses a mixture of primary and water colors, and pen. She gives the animals human-like characteristics, like standing on two legs and wearing clothing. I think the book teaches a good lesson to children, that they should always help someone with something when being asked.

[Gabriel Wallis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Little Red Hen" is such a great little story. I read this book to our son and daughter the other night, and they just soaked it up. It's not just a good story for little kids, though. It's a great story for adults as well. The lesson we learn from it is invaluable; it's biblical what we learn from the story. We must work for what we eat. The Bible talks briefly about working for what we eat. 1 Thessalonians 3:10 says, "For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." In "The Little Red Hen", the Duck, the Pig, and the Cat did not work, and thus they did not eat. The Little Red Hen worked hard for her food, and she ate everything that she worked for... and she was able to bless her chicks with the food too. Now, about the illustrations in the book. They were great! I have another book by the same artist (Lilian Obligado)... "Over in the Meadow". And the illustrations are just as captivating as "The Little Red Hen". I appreciate these stories, and I'll always love "The Little Red Hen".

[Jmarkat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The little red hen is in the Genre of Folklore. This book is intended for children pre-k - 1st grade. The little red hen is about a hen who finds some seeds and ask her friends to help plant them, they say no so she plants them and they grow. She ask her friends to help her cut the stalks, they say no. She does the same with the threshing of the wheat, grinding of the grains, and baking of the bread. They said no to it all. When asked who will help me eat the bread everyone said I will, Red hen denies them and eat the bread alone. This story is great for preschool due to it's repetition and awareness for what's coming next. The text was very simple and easy to follow. This is also a great way to introduce to children the work it actually takes to make bread versus buying it from the supermarket. the moral that can be taught from this story is that only hard work get rewarded. The illustrations were bright and done with primary colors. Animals were easy to recognize with a collage feel in appearance.

[Sarah Rostkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Little Red Hen is for about 2nd graders. Its a step up from the easy reads.this book was about a hen and three friends and her baby chicks. Then hen found some wheat seeds on the ground and she wanted help planting them, cutting the wheat down, taking it to the miller, roll out the dough,make the bread, and eat the bread. And none of her frineds helped her out, so she did everything herself. When it came time to eat the bread and three friends said they would help her eat this bread but she said no because they didnt help her do the prep work for making it. so she ate it herself and with the baby chicks.

This book would keep the interst of the 2nd grader because it has bright colors, has animals to help tell the story, and its easy to understand. I would recommand this book to any 2nd grader. since its easy to understand

[Anjanette Avila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. I think that this book is great for children. It teaches them that hard work pays off. It also teaches them that it's good to be helpful. I like how the hen didn't give the other animals any food when she was finished because they didn't help. So now the animals help every time.

I would use this book to show the children to not give up on something because it seems hard or like a lot of work. I would have the children do a cooking project (like making cookies), and I would show them how to work together. I would also let them see how working together can make things better. Things will get done quicker and you can have fun working together.

[Petrie Serrano · Rating 3 out of 5]

I prefer books my LO can apply to things he already knows. He enjoyed this one and it sparked some discussion. In the middle he had already figured out the chicken was doing all the work, but he was especially interested in hearing more about the lazy cat with the guitar, and pointed out ducks are supposed to eat Cheerios, not bread. He also said the paintings were pretty cool. Mission accomplished.

[Arielle Antoine]

This is one of my favorite stories growing up. I had the story in one big book of collection of tales. I loved hearing the story and I also loved reading by myself as I got older. If I teach kindergarten, I will try to incorporate this story into a lesson.

[Marwin Fernandez]

Such a classic story about doing chores to get rewards. The repetition will help children grasp words and concepts easily. A very easy book to read to your child. It is straightforward with just enough personality to make it interesting.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read to my son.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure this was the same version I read when I was about 7 years old, but it looks like it might be. Teaches the lesson that the Bible gives of "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat."

[Tarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite memories of childhood was my dad reading me this book. For that alone it gets 5 stars. If I could, I would give it a million. Very simple story, yet it teaches a valuable lesson.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this was a good book for teaching a lesson about teamwork and effort. I thought that it was really well told, I liked the pictures. I would definitely recommend this book to students.

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I loved it when the little red hen and her three little chicks ate the bread by themselves."

[Joseph Szabo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood memories. I read it, I reread it, I loved it, it made me a better person.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved this book. Our children, grandchildren and other children we read to loved it.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite childhood book. It teaches children how they should share responsibilities and help each other or they will never be rewarded.

[Little Champs]

GB 129

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favs growing up that my mom read to me. :-)

[Jawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've loved this book pretty much my whole life.

[Kayla Boerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for teaching children about the importance of helping others. It also teaches children about working hard to get things done and to be able to get what they need/want. It is beautifully illustrated and a cute little book.