The Little Red Hen

Once upon a time, on a little farm, there lived a little red hen.

She lived with a sleepy cat, a lazy dog and a noisy duck. The cat liked to sleep in the sun. The dog liked to lie by the gate. The duck liked to splash in the pond and quack.

But the little red hen liked to be busy.

Who will help me plant the wheat?

One morning, as she was scratching in the yard, the little red hen found some grains of wheat.

"Look!" she clucked. "If I plant these, they will grow into wheat. Who will help me plant the wheat?"

"Not I," said the cat, and yawned.

"Not I," said the dog, and closed his eyes.

"Not I," said the duck, and splashed in the pond.

"Then I will plant it myself," said the little red hen. And she did.

She dug little holes with her feet. She dropped in the grains. She covered them up with soft earth.

Who will help me look after it?

The rain fell and the sun shone, and the wheat began to grow. Little green shoots popped up out of the ground.

"Who will help me pull up the weeds and water the wheat?" asked the little red hen.

"Not I," said the cat.

"Not I," said the dog.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Then I will do it myself," said the little red hen. And she did.

All summer long, the wheat grew taller and taller, until it was tall and golden and waving in the wind.

"Who will help me cut the wheat?" asked the little red hen.

"Not I," said the cat.

"Not I," said the dog.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Then I will do it myself," said the little red hen. And she did.

Who will help me make the bread?

"Who will help me take the wheat to the mill, to grind it into flour?" asked the little red hen.

"Not I," said the cat, the dog and the duck, all together.

So the little red hen carried the heavy wheat to the mill by herself, and the miller ground it into soft white flour.

"Who will help me make the flour into bread?" asked the little red hen.

"Not I," said the cat.

"Not I," said the dog.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Then I will do it myself," said the little red hen. And she did.

She mixed the flour with water and a pinch of salt. She kneaded the dough. She put it in the oven to bake.

Soon a warm, wonderful smell drifted out of the kitchen and all across the farm.

Who will help me eat the bread?

The cat opened her eyes. The dog lifted his nose. The duck climbed out of the pond.

The little red hen took the golden loaf out of the oven.

"Who will help me eat the bread?" she asked.

"I will!" said the cat.

"I will!" said the dog.

"I will!" said the duck.

The little red hen looked at them.

"I found the wheat. I planted it, and I looked after it, and I cut it. I took it to the mill, and I made the bread, all by myself," she said. "And now I shall eat it, with my little chicks."

And she did. Every warm, delicious crumb.

The cat, the dog and the duck looked at each other.

The next spring, when the little red hen found some more grains of wheat and asked, "Who will help me plant the wheat?", three voices answered at once:

"I will!"

About this story

This is an old folk tale that has been told to young children in English-speaking countries for well over a hundred years. Its repeating lines make it a favourite for children who are just learning to read. The last part, where the friends offer to help the next year, is a small addition in this version. This version is a shortened, simplified retelling.