The Little Red Hen: (First Reading Level 3)
Usborne young reading. Series four
What’s inside...
The classic tale of the Little Red Hen, who finds a grain of wheat and asks for help from her friends to plant, harvest, and bake it into bread. Despite their refusals to help, she persists and succeeds on her own, teaching a lesson about the rewards of hard work and self-reliance. Each title in this series is a classic story or fable, retold with simple text to delight and inspire any child who is just beginning to read.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
2-6
Length
48 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think motivated the Little Red Hen to do all the work by herself?
How did you feel about the other animals not helping the Little Red Hen?
If you were there, would you have helped the Little Red Hen? Why or why not?
What do you think this story teaches us about teamwork and responsibility?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the characters and their actions. Use the questions to guide a conversation that explores the value of hard work and cooperation. Relate the story to your child’s experiences with teamwork at home or in school. Acknowledge any emotions they express, validating their views and connecting them personally to the story’s themes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The value of hard work
Explanation: In 'The Little Red Hen', the protagonist does all the work herself, from planting the seeds to baking the bread, because none of the other animals are willing to help.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of contributing to tasks at home or in school. Participating in chores or group projects can teach them about responsibility and the satisfaction of completing tasks.
Example Lesson: The consequences of laziness
Explanation: The other animals refuse to help the Little Red Hen at various stages of bread-making, so when the bread is ready, she decides not to share it with them.
Real-World Application: This lesson highlights the natural consequences of inaction. Children can learn that by not participating or contributing, they might miss out on rewards or positive outcomes.
Example Lesson: The importance of cooperation
Explanation: The story showcases the hen tackling all tasks alone, which illustrates how sharing the workload can be more efficient and lead to shared benefits.
Real-World Application: This can teach children the importance of teamwork. By cooperating with others, not only can tasks become easier, but relationships can also be strengthened.
Example Lesson: Self-reliance
Explanation: The Little Red Hen decides to handle everything on her own when no one else steps up, demonstrating self-sufficiency.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to develop independence and confidence in their abilities to manage tasks and solve problems on their own.