Once upon a time a little red hen was out in the barnyard with her friends. She spotted a grain of wheat on the ground, and that gave her an idea.
“Who will help me plant this wheat?” she asked.
“Not I,” said the duck.
“Not I,” said the mouse.
“Not I,” said the pig.
“Then I’ll plant it myself,” said the little red hen. And she did.
The grain of wheat sprouted and grew into a tall plant. Soon it was yellow and ripe.
“Who will help me cut this wheat?” said the little red hen.
“Not I,” said the duck.
“Not I,” said the mouse.
“Not I,” said the pig.
“Then I will cut it myself,” said the little red hen. And she did.
When the wheat was cut, the little red hen asked, “Who will help me thresh the wheat?”
“Not I,” said the duck.
“Not I,” said the mouse.
“Not I,” said the pig.
“Then I will thresh it myself,” she said. And she did.
When the wheat was ready to be ground into flour, the little red hen asked, “Who will help me grind the wheat?”
“Not I,” said the duck.
“Not I,” said the mouse.
“Not I,” said the pig.
“Then I’ll grind it myself,” said the little red hen. And she did.
When the wheat was ground into flour, the little red hen asked, “Who will help me make some bread?”
“Not I,” said the duck.
“Not I,” said the mouse.
“Not I,” said the pig.
“Then I’ll make it myself,” said the little red hen. And she did.
When the bread was baked, the little red hen asked, “Who will help me eat the bread?”
“I will,” said the duck.
“I will,” said the mouse.
“I will,” said the pig.
“No, you won’t,” said the little red hen. “I’ll eat it myself.”
She called to her chicks: “Cluck, cluck. Come here, come here. I made this bread myself, and we’re going to eat it all up. Eat up! Eat up!” And they did.
(This is a great story to act out with you being the Little Red Hen and saying most of the lines.)
© Warren Publishing House |
