The Little Red Hen

On a sunny farm, there lived a little red hen who was always busy. One day, while pecking around, she found some grains of wheat. “How exciting!” she thought, “I can plant these and grow wheat to make bread.”

The little red hen went to her friends—the lazy cat, the sleepy dog, and the busy duck—and asked, “Who will help me plant the wheat?” But each of them had excuses.

The lazy cat stretched and said, “Not me, I’m too tired.”

The sleepy dog yawned and replied, “I need a nap.”

And the busy duck, rushing around, said, “I’m too busy right now.”

So, the little red hen planted the wheat all by herself. She watered it every day, pulled out the weeds, and watched it grow taller and taller.

When the wheat was ready to harvest, the little red hen went back to her friends and asked, “Who will help me cut the wheat and grind it into flour?”

Once again, her friends all said, “No, not us!”

So, the little red hen did it all alone—cutting, grinding, and turning the wheat into fine flour.

Finally, it was time to bake the bread. The smell of warm, fresh bread filled the air. The little red hen’s friends smelled the delicious aroma and came running.

“Can we eat the bread with you?” they asked, their mouths watering.

But the little red hen shook her head and said, “No, you didn’t help me plant the wheat, you didn’t help me water it, and you didn’t help me bake the bread. So, this bread is for me!”

The cat, the dog, and the duck looked at each other, disappointed. They learned an important lesson that day—that if you want to enjoy the reward, you have to help with the work.

And the little red hen enjoyed her bread, knowing she had earned every bite.

Moral:

You should share in the work if you want to share in the reward.

Additional Lessons:

• Hard Work: The little red hen’s efforts highlight the importance of dedication and perseverance in achieving results.
• Responsibility: The story emphasizes taking responsibility and contributing to collective tasks if one wishes to enjoy the benefits.

Parenting Tip: This story offers a perfect chance to teach children about responsibility and teamwork. Discuss with your child why it’s important to pitch in and help with tasks, even when they seem small. Encourage them to take part in family chores or group activities, emphasizing that shared efforts lead to shared rewards.

Fun Questions For Curious Kids:

• Why do you think the little red hen decided to plant the wheat by herself?
• What could the cat, dog, and duck have done to help the little red hen?
• How do you think the little red hen felt when her friends didn’t help her?
• Why do you think the little red hen didn’t share the bread at the end?
• What’s your favorite kind of bread or food? Would you help make it?
• Have you ever worked hard on something and felt proud of the result?
• Why is teamwork important, even for simple tasks?
• If you were one of the little red hen’s friends, what would you have done?

Did You Know? Fun Farm Facts!

1. Hens are great at teamwork! In a flock, they often work together to protect each other from danger.
2. A hen can lay up to 300 eggs in a year! Imagine how many eggs that is for baking.
3. Chickens have excellent memories—they can recognize over 100 different faces, both human and animal.
4. Wheat is one of the oldest crops in the world. Humans have been growing it for over 10,000 years!
5. A single wheat plant can produce up to 50 kernels, which are ground into flour for bread, pasta, and more.
6. Flour from wheat is used to make over 400 different foods around the world.
7. The oldest known bread was baked around 14,000 years ago! Ancient bread was made by grinding grains into flour and mixing it with water.
8. Bread comes in many forms—like flatbreads, rolls, and loaves—and is a staple food in many cultures.
9. Did you know? Some breads, like sourdough, are made using “starter” yeast that can be kept alive for years!

Download Free Coloring Pages Related To This Story

Bring the story to life with coloring pages designed to spark creativity and make story time even more fun. Coloring helps kids express their creativity, improve focus, and reinforce the story’s themes in a fun, engaging way. After reading together, let them bring the story to life with colors!

Click on any of the free coloring pages below to download or print it!