What do you think?
Rate this book
Ladybird – Well Loved Tales Series 606D #1.4
The Little Red Hen and the Grains of Wheat
Book by
52 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1966
1 person is currently reading
58 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 15, 2018
I think I'm on a trip down memory lane. A wonderful children's classic story.
February 9, 2015
Despite remembering little about this tale now, I think rating it five stars equates to how much I enjoyed this story when I read it numerous times as a child.
I do recall the basic plot for this, however, and in fact remember more about this title than most books read during my pre-teens. Thus, Red Hen every so often asks three other animals if they will help her with such and such a task, to which she always receives the following replies:
"Not I," said the pig.
"Not I," said the cat.
"Not I," said the rat.
I remember the above because even to this day I sometimes quote these responses to myself (in a non-crazy way) when I don't want to do something. Funny how certain unusual aspects of one's childhood last deep into adulthood, perhaps forever.
Possible spoiler coming up, so don't read on if you genuinely want to read this without any clue to the ending.
Anyway, the three animals' answers all change to "I will" at the end when Red Hen asks who'll help her eat her wheat (or something containing wheat), but quite rightfully she tells the others to sod off, though of course she puts it more eloquently than me.
Reckon 1984 would be the last time I read it, but it's hard to be accurate all these years on.
Recommended to anyone aged in single figures or for grown-ups feeling nostalgic.
I do recall the basic plot for this, however, and in fact remember more about this title than most books read during my pre-teens. Thus, Red Hen every so often asks three other animals if they will help her with such and such a task, to which she always receives the following replies:
"Not I," said the pig.
"Not I," said the cat.
"Not I," said the rat.
I remember the above because even to this day I sometimes quote these responses to myself (in a non-crazy way) when I don't want to do something. Funny how certain unusual aspects of one's childhood last deep into adulthood, perhaps forever.
Possible spoiler coming up, so don't read on if you genuinely want to read this without any clue to the ending.
Anyway, the three animals' answers all change to "I will" at the end when Red Hen asks who'll help her eat her wheat (or something containing wheat), but quite rightfully she tells the others to sod off, though of course she puts it more eloquently than me.
Reckon 1984 would be the last time I read it, but it's hard to be accurate all these years on.
Recommended to anyone aged in single figures or for grown-ups feeling nostalgic.
April 6, 2022
Mary Mapes Dodge's fairy tale first appeared in 1874 but Vera Southgate's retelling brings it up to date with lovely illustrations by David Kearney.
The little red hen lived in a farmyard and she was a curious hen in that when she discovered some grains of wheat, she asked other animals, cat, rat and pig, if they would like to help her plant them. Unfortunately she met with a definitive answer from all three, 'Not I.'
And that was the answer she got when she tried when she wanted the wheat cut and when she asked about other associated activities that needed some work.
The story culminates with cat, rat and pig getting their comeuppance when it came to sharing the benefits with them later ... but you can imagine the little red hen's response, I feel sure ...
The little red hen lived in a farmyard and she was a curious hen in that when she discovered some grains of wheat, she asked other animals, cat, rat and pig, if they would like to help her plant them. Unfortunately she met with a definitive answer from all three, 'Not I.'
And that was the answer she got when she tried when she wanted the wheat cut and when she asked about other associated activities that needed some work.
The story culminates with cat, rat and pig getting their comeuppance when it came to sharing the benefits with them later ... but you can imagine the little red hen's response, I feel sure ...
June 5, 2022
This series is totally and complete fantastic in so many ways, The stories will live for children for ever and ever as one says. The physical presentation in as magical as the stories and it so marvellous to see these timeless stories renewed once again for the new generations to enjoy as much as we did when we were children. Timeless Wonders!
June 18, 2017
This little old easy-reader is a delightful edition. The illustrations are of a realistic farmyard and village, with human farmers doing their work in the background. Because the animals don't live in a house, the hen enlists the help of a miller and a baker, communicating simply by context. Otherwise, there's no change in the barebones version of the classic story, not even any chicks.
There's no need for any of you to seek this out, but I'm glad that I did.
There's no need for any of you to seek this out, but I'm glad that I did.
April 13, 2012
I really love this book! :)
April 5, 2013
Can't believe I remember most of the words. My partner read it to me with his own personal spin, was rather funny but hope he behaves when he reads it to my grandkids :)
November 18, 2018
*I read the version by Veronica S. Hutchinson
Reading Level: .8
Guided Reading Level: 1.8
This book is about a hen who puts in a lot of work to make bread. Along the way, she asks multiple animals if they will help her. In the end, the hen enjoys the bread with her chicks and without the other animals because they all refused to help.
This is a piece of traditional literature because it it often read to young children in order to teach them about having a work ethic.
Writing Traits:
Ideas- The main message of this story is if you don't put in the work, you will not get the reward. The author focused on the hard work of the hen and the lack of work shown by the other animals. In the end, the hen enjoyed the bread while the animals who did not help were not offered any bread.
Sentence Fluency- Throughout the story, the author uses similar sentences to create rhythmic flow. Each time the hen asks, "Who will plant the wheat/cut the wheat/thresh the wheat/etc." the response is "'Not I,' said the duck. 'Not I,' said the cat. 'Not I,' said the dog." This use of sentences structure and rhythmic flow guides young readers and helps them predict what the animals will say next.
Classroom Integration: This text can be used to support a social skills lesson. In kindergarten and first grade, social skills lessons are important in order for students to develop appropriate skills to interact with others. This text can be used as a mentor text to start the lesson, a discussion can be held, and then students can act out the story's events. The students can then discuss how the other animals should have responded if they wanted to enjoy the bread at the end.
Reading Level: .8
Guided Reading Level: 1.8
This book is about a hen who puts in a lot of work to make bread. Along the way, she asks multiple animals if they will help her. In the end, the hen enjoys the bread with her chicks and without the other animals because they all refused to help.
This is a piece of traditional literature because it it often read to young children in order to teach them about having a work ethic.
Writing Traits:
Ideas- The main message of this story is if you don't put in the work, you will not get the reward. The author focused on the hard work of the hen and the lack of work shown by the other animals. In the end, the hen enjoyed the bread while the animals who did not help were not offered any bread.
Sentence Fluency- Throughout the story, the author uses similar sentences to create rhythmic flow. Each time the hen asks, "Who will plant the wheat/cut the wheat/thresh the wheat/etc." the response is "'Not I,' said the duck. 'Not I,' said the cat. 'Not I,' said the dog." This use of sentences structure and rhythmic flow guides young readers and helps them predict what the animals will say next.
Classroom Integration: This text can be used to support a social skills lesson. In kindergarten and first grade, social skills lessons are important in order for students to develop appropriate skills to interact with others. This text can be used as a mentor text to start the lesson, a discussion can be held, and then students can act out the story's events. The students can then discuss how the other animals should have responded if they wanted to enjoy the bread at the end.
June 30, 2022
I'm not sure if this is the same version that I read, but it was a simple story about a little red hen who has no help from her farmyard friends.
The story is simple and easy to follow although there's nothing special or exciting about. I matched it with singing the hello song that led to a discussion about different feelings e.g. happy, tired that then led onto how we would mime being busy. The kids loved it.
The story is simple and easy to follow although there's nothing special or exciting about. I matched it with singing the hello song that led to a discussion about different feelings e.g. happy, tired that then led onto how we would mime being busy. The kids loved it.
June 4, 2021
i must have been read this when i was little but i don’t remember it so i’ve re read it now after finding it in a clear out.
lovely little fable with clear moral, with pretty illustrations on each page. unfortunately my mum/aunty, whose books these had been originally, had been busy with the crayons over some of them://
lovely little fable with clear moral, with pretty illustrations on each page. unfortunately my mum/aunty, whose books these had been originally, had been busy with the crayons over some of them://
Read
October 30, 20257 year old: when no one decided to help the little red hen plant the grain, and she decided to do it herself, my little one said "I should be like the little red hen."
At the end, she told off the other animals. "If you don't do the work, you don't get the bread!"
"The little red hen was cute."
grown up: the pictures were very cute indeed
At the end, she told off the other animals. "If you don't do the work, you don't get the bread!"
"The little red hen was cute."
grown up: the pictures were very cute indeed
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2019
My favourite book as a child
December 10, 2019
This was kind of weird, because I read it and almost immediately forgot it. It might be the blandest one out of the collection.
January 14, 2021
Sangat menggambarkan diriku yang kalo dirumah lagi males, nggak mau ngapa-ngapain tapi tetep mau makan hahaha. Nggak baik... Nggak baik... hahaha
November 28, 2025
This is one of the most satisfying fairy tales ever.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews