The Little Red Hen: An Old Story - Hardcover

Zemach, Margot

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0374346216 ISBN 13: 9780374346218

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 1983

Synopsis

The legendary, lovable little red hen, famous for her industriousness and independent spirit, returns with more verve than ever in Margot Zemach's interpretation of the classic story. Though small in stature, the little red hen comes through loud and clear when she asks her friends the goose, the cat, and the pig: "Who will plant this wheat?" When they reply "Not I!" our sturdy heroine, assisted by her brood of chicks, sets about planting the wheat herself.
At each step along the way--harvesting, threshing, taking the grain to the mill--the little red hen's lazy friends refuse to lift hoof, paw, or wing to help. But when her efforts yield a warm, fragrant loaf of bread, the little red hen is glad to say: "Now I'm going to eat it myself!"

About this title

Review:

This little red hen is a hard-working single mother who gets no help from the goose, the cat, and the pig. When she asks who will help her, the refrain "Not I" rings out loud and clear. (Is this a little too close to home?) So she harvests and threshes the wheat herself and hauls it to the mill with her chicks trailing behind. She bakes a fine loaf of bread and when it's ready to eat, she doesn't choose to share it with the lazy goose, cat, and pig. Ha! This tale is a fun way for children to learn about the importance of helping others, and sharing, too. Margot Zemach's detailed, vivacious illustrations make this edition an all-time favorite. She is the author and illustrator of It Could Always Be Worse, a Caldecott Honor Book, and was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1974 for her illustrations in Duffy and the Devil, written by her husband Harve Zemach. (Ages 3 to 6)

Review:

"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

"A fresh, animated, strongly characterized depiction of a classic nursery tale." --Kirkus Reviews

About this edition

• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
• Publication date: 1983
• ISBN 10: 0374346216
• ISBN 13: 9780374346218
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Zemach Margot