“The Little Red Hen” Revisited
Three picture-books of the well known story where subtle differences appear in the conclusions
Once asked what stories I recalled hearing in my childhood, I half jokingly replied, “I remember my mother reading the story of ‘The Little Red Hen’ over and over again. I think it was her favorite.” “That’s every mother’s favorite story,” my inquisitor replied.
Though it sometimes differs in this or that detail, the unchanging part of the story tells how the Little Red Hen decides to bake a cake (or a loaf of bread) and asks her pals: “Who will help me . . . [plant the wheat, harvest it, mill it, mix it, and bake it]?” On each occasion, her barnyard friends (a dog, a cat, or other critters) repeat the reply “Not I” and the Hen does the chore herself. Then comes the time when the pastry is done and the Hen asks who will help eat it. Of course, the good-for-nothings are eager to share in the treat. But in most versions, the Hen turns these sluggards away with an admonition that since they didn’t help in its preparation, they can’t savor its consumption: “I’ll eat all myself!” the Little Red Hen snaps.
Though most of us are familiar with the phenomenon it encapsulates, it’s interesting what others say this tale is about. During the Ronald Reagan era, the story was employed by…
