All By Myself

by Stephanie Shaw, Emilie Gill (Illustrator)

Hen insists on doing everything alone. When Fox comes calling, Hen’s friends start to worry . . . but should they?

Hen isn’t a little chick anymore. She’s spread her wings and can get a job done just the way she likes it! She can grow wheat herself, she can wheelbarrow it home by herself, and she can turn it into delicious bread all by herself. No need to bother offering Hen a helping hand of any sort, thank you. She’s got it covered!

But then comes Fox...and Fox loves to eat all kinds of tasty things. So when Pig, Horse, and Cow discover that Fox has paid Hen a visit, should they step in and offer assistance that Hen hasn’t asked for?

This delectable social-emotional learning tale celebrates the strong-willed and independent, putting a quirky spin on the classic stories Henny Penny and The Little Red Hen.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Animals, Folk Tales, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 11, 2023

About the author

After a successful career teaching children with severe behavioral challenges, school counseling and school administration, Stephanie Shaw now loves creating stories that range from quiet to quirky, poetry to prose. When she isn’t assisting door-to-door vacuum cleaner vampire salesmen, taking cows on shopping trips for muumuus, or helping garden slugs with their calligraphy, she can be found at home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Reviews

[Alex Knipp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning illustration work!!!

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief summary: Hen refuses help from Pig, Horse, and Cow as she struggles to carry a large flour sack to the wheelbarrow to take home to bake bread. On her way, Hen comes across Fox, who wants to watch her cook. Hen agrees to allow Fox to observe her in the kitchen.

At the end of the day, the three barn animals notice Hen's footprints, the wheelbarrow marks in the mud, and the footprints of a fox. They hurry to Hen's cottage to rescue her, predicting the worst.

Comments: This children's book has the flavor of The Little Red Hen and Henny Penny mixed throughout.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute twist on the story Little Red Hen

[L.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Little Red Hen” meets “Jemima Puddleduck”…crazily inverted! Son pulled it off the library shelf and was, of course, taken by the animal illustrations, which are well done.