The Little Red Hen (Nursery Classics) [Hardcover]

Norman Messenger (Author), Alan Garner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1997 | Age Level: 3 and up | Series: Nursery Classics

One of our 'finest novelists for your people' (Kirkus Reviews) turns his hand to the classic fairy tale, The Little Red Hen. The graceful muted illustrations of Norman Messenger accompany this magical tale. With their smooth sheen and intricate details these images extend Garner's vision of the fantastical to produce a charming book that will delight young children at every telling.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1. A good rendition of a traditional tale. Unlike Paul Galdone's classic retelling (Houghton, 1979), this version of the story doesn't end with the little red hen's victory over the cat and the rat; instead, it continues on with her adventure with the fox. The text is simple, the layout is pleasing, and the illustrations are softly colored and amusing. The book has large enough print for beginning readers, although it would also be a good choice to read aloud: "'Here's a big brown fox,' said the little red hen, 'with a wide white sack.'" Garner tells the story well, providing an excellent choice for picture-book collections.?Judith Constantinides, East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789411717
• ISBN-13: 978-0789411716
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 7.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,068,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Little Red Hen-- a real little treasure!, May 14, 2006

By 

Anonymous "Diligent Mom" (Bellevue, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Little Red Hen (Nursery Classics) (Hardcover)

Our little family are avid children's books lovers. We easily have over 300 children's books-- everything from board books and picture books to adolescent encyclopedias and fairytales-- they overflow out of every book case, cabinet and nightstand. That said, this version of "The Little Red Hen" is easily in our top 10 Favorite. My kids are 6 and 2 now and we've had this copy for years. My 2-year-old now continues the tradition and asks for it by name "Witto Wed Hen, Mommy!" And yet my 6-year-old (normally fascinated by superheros and laserguns) still enjoys hearing it too.

This book stands out because for the older kids in all of us, the writing is charming, the characters are interesting, and the repetition and rhythm of the words is fascinating for little ones, as well.

As an illustrator myself, I just admire and appreciate the illustrations of Norman Messenger each time we open the book (which is pretty much daily for the past few months).

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The story you remember from childhood...., October 25, 2001

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Little Red Hen (Nursery Classics) (Hardcover)

Fairy and Folk tales play an important role in developing a child's love of reading. Very young children love to experience classic nursery tales especially with such wonderful illustrations of mice, hens, cats and little brick cottages.

The Little Red Hen is a story I remember from childhood, but never heard the "end" of the story the way it is told here. In the story I remember, the little red hen had to do all the work and then ate what she made herself while everyone else went hungry. Or, at least that is the way I remember it.

This seems like two stories in one. One where the little red hen is teaching the lesson of hard work and the second of teaching that you have to be smart in all situations and be prepared.

In this story a cat, a rat and a red hen live together in a house. The cat and the rat refuse to help her with making the breakfast and so she says: "I'll do it myself." Then, she eats up the breakfast she made. So, that part of the story was what I remember.

Then, a fox enters and is carrying a wide white sack, he catches little red hen and she escapes. She puts a stone in the sack and sews it back up. The fox drops the contents of the sack down the chimney and smashes the glass cooking pot to "smithereens."

Cute story for very young children.