| Title | : | The Little Red Hen: An Old Story |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0374445117 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780374445119 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 32 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1983 |
The Little Red Hen: An Old Story Reviews
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Meh. No twist. Hen does share with her chicks. Wordy. Choose among the other editions to discuss with your children.
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The Little Red Hen is a simple moral tale about hard work and consequences, both good and bad. The little red hen has multiple tasks that she expects her friends, the goose, cat, and pig, will help her with, only to find that they will not. The little red hen completes the tasks herself and ultimately rejoices in the joys of a job well done, whereas her friends learn an important lesson about work ethic.
The work has several themes, including “if you want something done, you must do it yourself,” and “you reap what you sow.” The little red hen quickly learns that she cannot depend on her friends to help her with her chores, and therefore completes them herself. She and her friends learn that you reap what you sow when the little read hen enjoys a meal of freshly baked bread, while her friends, who provided no help in bringing forth the bread, are left empty-handed.
The book uses simple words and actions to teach the lessons of the theme. Repetition is used throughout the book, making for an entertaining and easy read. The little red hen consistently asks who will help her with a specific task, which is followed by a chorus of “not I’s” from her friends. The little red hen then states that she will complete the task herself. The end is satisfying with the little red hen completing the task of eating her hard-earned bread herself.
The illustrations are not stunning, but are effective in conveying the message of the story. Their simple nature complements the simplicity of the work. The little red hen is shown with her little house and little chicks, working hard throughout the book, while her friends, the goose, cat, and pig, are shown lounging around, watching the hen work, and playing cards. Her friends quickly abandon their activities when bread is brought forth, and are literally illustrated as running to the food, only to be left empty-handed. The animals are illustrated in a manner similar to humans, with them wearing clothes, including top hats and bonnets, which make it easier to apply human morals, values, and emotions to them.
Due to its repetitive nature, the book would work well as a read aloud or an individual read. This work is recommended as a supplemental purchase as it feels dated, yet not classic. -
Sometimes you have to do all the work yourself, but hard work pays off!
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The Little Red Hen is a tale about a hen that does all of the work. The Hen’s work is not appreciated until it is done. Then everyone wants to share jn the fruits of her labor. I like this story.
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The story you know the illustrations make it stand out
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Great for read aloud.
Talks about reaping what you sow, and working for yourself. -
Title: The Little Red Hen: An Old Story
Author: Margot Zemach
Illustrator: Margot Zemach
Genre: Repetitive/Rhyming Book
Theme(s): Repetition, Friendship, Independence, Work Ethic
Opening Line/Sentence:
Once upon a time a little red hen lived with her chicks in a small cottage.
She worked hard to keep her family well fed.
Brief Book Summary:
While walking with her friends, little red hen find grains of wheat her friends won’t help her plant the seeds so she does it herself. When the wheat was ready to harvest, hen’s friends once again won’t help so hen does it herself. The hen then has to thresh the wheat, take the wheat to the mill, and bake bread with the flour, all by herself. Once she makes bread her friends now ask to have some but hen eats it all herself because they did not help her once.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Barnes & Noble
Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
According to PW , ``Zemach turns an `old story' into a new, irresistible treat, with a brisk narrative and pictures in zesty colors in the style that has won her a Caldecott Medal. The characters are howlingly funny.'' Ages 3-8. (Apr.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Barnes & Noble
From the Publisher
"Zemach turns 'an old story' into a new, irresistible treat...Howlingly funny."-Publishers Weekly. "A clean, attractive job, perfect for preschoolers and a welcome addition to the easy-story shelf." —Booklist
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviews are generally similar in that they both view the story as irresistible and attractive. The reviews state that this books is howlingly funny and that it is perfect for preschoolers.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book is very easy to read because of it’s structure and format. The wording is not difficult at all and the repetition per couple pages allows the students to anticipate exactly what will happen and be able to fully grasp the plot of the story. Threshed may be the only difficult word in the book.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This would be a great read aloud book with enhanced expression on friendship. Making sure the kids understand that helping others allows you to get their benefits, such as when you help harvest wheat you get to have bread. Some kind of friendship exercise can be done for this. -
Who doesn't relate to the wonderful message of the Little Red Hen? If you don't work, you don't eat! I love this story!!. I wish that during my lifetime I would have 'used' the wisdom presented in the Little Red Hen a bit more often. That is, those who don't help participate in the needed service, labor, whatever is needed, should not receive the rewards.
This tale is direct in presenting the various duties of the responsibilities for agriculture. The story would have been very appropriate during the time that it was written,since the means of acquiring vegetables and wheat was more commonly understood to come come from a field, toiled in and harvested by hand. (as opposed to the Kroger's down the the street today). The emphasis of the labor involved along every step of the way, planting, maintenance, harvest, threshing, milling, kneading...all the aspects of the various details needed to acquire the end results of a fresh bread are clearly presented in the book. The firm 'boundary' that the Little Red Hen upholds is the sends a strong message at the end of the story. The traditional tales presented a moral and this one (as others too) holds true to this very day the same as it did when it was first written. Those who don't help in a project or assist with a product do not deserve to enjoy the results of the product! -
What a classic story! Her friends are too lazy to help her do the things that are needed to be done. However, when it comes to eating the finished product (the bread), they're all for it! It's good she tells them no because they didn't help at all! It shows good character and you need to earn things before they are just given to you!
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This book is great to show that hard work always pays off. The hen does all the work to make the bread without her friends helping. When the bread has been made they decide they want to help eat it, but the hen will not let them.
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cumulative tale
beast tale -
J P 398.2 ZEM--[FOL]
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Library Catalog -
With lively illustrations Zemach retells this old tale with simple text.
