The Little Red Hen

Reach for this book when you are navigating the common preschool hurdle of chores, cooperation, and the concept of natural consequences. It is an essential tool for parents who hear 'not me' whenever it is time to tidy up or help with a family task. By showing rather than telling, the story explains why every member of a group must contribute to the collective effort. Diane Muldrow's retelling of this classic folktale follows a hardworking hen who asks her animal friends for help at every stage of making bread, from planting seeds to baking the loaf. When her friends refuse each time, they are met with a firm lesson in fairness: those who do not help with the work do not get to share in the reward. It is a clear, developmentally appropriate introduction to justice and personal responsibility for children ages 2 to 5.