The Key Words: the Little Red Hen
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What’s inside...
Take a great story and lots of silly sounds, mix with a happy helping of children, and you have a recipe for a Kaye Umansky Noisy Picture Book. Riotously funny retellings of favourite tales as you have never heard them before. Little Red Hen finds a grain of wheat but who will help her plant and hoe it? To a lazy chorus of 'WOOF MEOW QUACK QUACK - YAWN!' from her friends, she stamps her feet with a 'CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK' and sets to work. Noisily colourful illustrations and an irresistible audio performance invite us to join the rapping, tapping, toiling and triumphant Little Red Hen.
Character compass
The Little Red Hen
The Duck
The Cat
The Dog
Discussion points
What do you think the Little Red Hen learned about sharing and teamwork?
Why do you think the other animals didn't help the Little Red Hen?
How did you feel when the Little Red Hen decided to eat the bread by herself?
If you were one of the animals, what would you have done differently?
What does this story teach us about the importance of helping others?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before reading, ask your child what they know about hens and farms to build interest.
While reading, emphasize the repeated phrases and encourage your child to say them with you to keep them engaged.
Discuss the facial expressions and actions of the characters, asking your child how they think each character feels at different points in the story.
After reading, relate the story to your child’s experiences by discussing a time they worked on a project with others.
Encourage your child to think about the moral of the story and how it applies to their own life, perhaps through drawing or acting out the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: The story of 'The Little Red Hen' showcases the hen taking initiative to plant grains, tend to them, and eventually make bread without any help from her friends.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of taking responsibility for their tasks and understanding the effort involved in completing them, which is applicable in their daily chores and schoolwork.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: Throughout the book, the Little Red Hen repeatedly asks for help from her friends, emphasizing the benefits of teamwork and collaboration, despite not receiving any assistance.
Real-World Application: This lesson underlines the value of helping others and working together in group settings such as in school projects or family activities.
Example Lesson: Consequences
Explanation: The other animals in the story face the consequence of not having bread because they did not help the hen. This demonstrates the outcome of inaction.
Real-World Application: This can teach children that their choices and contributions have impacts, helping them understand the importance of participation and effort.
Example Lesson: Hard Work
Explanation: The Little Red Hen's dedication and hard work result in her enjoying the bread she made. It illustrates that perseverance and diligence lead to rewards.
Real-World Application: By observing this, children can learn the significance of hard work in achieving goals, which can be applied to their education and hobbies.
Example Lesson: Sharing and Generosity
Explanation: At the book's conclusion, even though the hen could eat all the bread herself, she has the opportunity to teach the virtue of sharing.
Real-World Application: It instills in children the importance of sharing what they have with others, promoting generosity within their family and community.