The Little Red Hen

Name: The Little Red Hen
ISBN: 9780140505672

by Margot Zemach

For children learning about responsibility and fairness, this classic tale teaches the importance of effort and the consequences of refusing to help.

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About This Book

When would a parent reach for this book? When you're tired of hearing 'Not I!' every time you ask for help with a chore. This classic folktale introduces the concepts of work ethic, contribution, and natural consequences in a simple, repetitive story. The Little Red Hen works diligently to turn a grain of wheat into bread while her lazy friends (a cat, a dog, and a mouse) refuse to help at every stage. When the bread is finally baked, they are eager to eat it, but the hen teaches them a memorable lesson about fairness. It’s an excellent tool for discussing responsibility with young children (ages 3-7) and opening a conversation about why everyone needs to pitch in.

Resilience & Perseverance Justice & Fairness Animals Fairy Tales & Mythology Teamwork & Collaboration Cooking & Food Honesty & Integrity Friendship & Social

What Parents Should Know

Sad ThemesMild

Characters who refuse to help do not get to share the reward (bread), which may feel harsh or sad.

Sensitive Topics

The core conflict revolves around a social contract being broken. The resolution, where the lazy friends are denied food they did not work for, can be seen as harsh by some. This is a classic example of natural consequences and retributive justice, presented in a secular, allegorical way. The resolution is realistic within the story's logic, not necessarily hopeful for the friends, but satisfying for the protagonist.