The Little Red Hen – A Story about Hard Work and Sharing

Character Introduction

• Little Red Hen – A kind and hardworking hen who loves to bake.
• Lazy Dog – A sleepy dog who always wants to nap.
• Silly Cat – A playful cat who never wants to work.
• Noisy Duck – A loud duck who prefers splashing in puddles over helping others.

Prologue

In a cozy little farmhouse near the edge of a golden wheat field lived the Little Red Hen and her three animal friends. Each day, the sun rose over the barn, but while the Little Red Hen clucked and cleaned and baked, her friends napped, played, and splashed around.

One day, the hen found some wheat seeds and had a big idea: she would make the most delicious bread ever! But she needed help. Would her friends finally lend a wing—or paw?

Part 1: The Wheat Discovery – A New Beginning

One bright and breezy morning, the Little Red Hen was pecking around the backyard of the old farmhouse when something shiny caught her eye.

“Oh my! What’s this?” she clucked, picking up a small handful of golden wheat seeds.

She looked at the seeds carefully and fluffed her feathers with excitement.

“If I plant these seeds, they’ll grow into wheat! And with wheat, I can make warm, soft, yummy bread—perfect for a goodnight story treat!”

Full of energy, she waddled over to her friends who were, as usual, busy doing very little.

The Lazy Dog was snoozing under a shady tree.
The Silly Cat was chasing her tail in circles.
And the Noisy Duck was splashing noisily in a muddy puddle.

The Little Red Hen cleared her throat.

“Who will help me plant these seeds?” she asked sweetly.

The Lazy Dog opened one eye and yawned.
“Not I,” he mumbled, rolling over.

The Silly Cat paused her spinning and purred, “Planting sounds boring. Not me!”

The Noisy Duck flapped her wings and quacked, “No time! I’m making a splashy castle!”

The Little Red Hen sighed but didn’t frown. She simply said, “Then I’ll do it myself.”

And so, she dug neat little holes, dropped in the seeds, covered them with soil, and gave them a gentle drink of water from her beak-carried bucket. As the sun warmed the earth, the seeds slept quietly underground—ready to grow.

Every day, the Little Red Hen checked on them, whispering, “Grow strong, little seeds. One day, you’ll be a warm loaf of bread.”

Part 2: Growing Tall – A Field of Gold

Days passed, then weeks. The sun rose and set, and little green shoots peeked out of the soil. The Little Red Hen clucked with joy.

“My wheat is growing!” she cheered. “One day soon, it will be golden and tall!”

But growing wheat wasn’t easy. It needed water, sunlight, and care. The Little Red Hen worked hard every day—watering the plants, pulling out prickly weeds, and shooing away hungry birds.

One morning, when the wheat was nearly ready, she looked out across the field. The stalks were tall and swaying in the breeze, glowing like sunshine.

She smiled proudly and called out, “It’s time to harvest the wheat! Who will help me cut it down?”

The Lazy Dog lifted his head for a second and said, “Too tired… I need a nap.”

The Silly Cat was tangled in yarn and giggled, “Not now! I’m in the middle of a great game.”

The Noisy Duck splashed up and down in her puddle and quacked, “I’m busy making waves!”

The Little Red Hen nodded politely and said, “Then I’ll harvest it myself.”

And so, she fetched a tiny scythe and began snipping the wheat. It was hard work under the warm sun, but she didn’t stop. She tied the wheat into bundles and carried it to the barn, her feathers dusty but her heart proud.

That night, while the others snored peacefully, the Little Red Hen whispered to the wheat, “You’re almost bread, my golden friends.”

Part 3: Grinding and Preparing – The Work Grows Harder

The next morning, the Little Red Hen looked at the bundles of golden wheat stacked neatly in the barn.

“To make bread, I need flour,” she said thoughtfully. “And to make flour, I must grind the wheat.”

She gathered the stalks into a sack and waddled toward the old windmill at the edge of the meadow. But before she left, she stopped by her friends once more.

“Who will help me take the wheat to the mill and grind it into flour?” she asked kindly.

The Lazy Dog rolled over and muttered, “My paws are too tired.”

The Silly Cat stretched and purred, “I just painted my claws. I can’t carry anything!”

The Noisy Duck twirled in a puddle and quacked, “Too splashy out today!”

The Little Red Hen tilted her head, then gave a small nod. “Then I’ll do it myself.”

And off she went.

The windmill creaked and groaned as she climbed the steps with her sack. Inside, the giant grinding stones spun slowly. She poured in the wheat, and white, soft flour drifted into her basket like fresh snow.

By the time she returned home, her feathers were dusted with flour, and her feet were sore. But the smell of the fresh flour made her smile.

“Soon, there will be bread,” she whispered, “and the whole house will smell like a bakery.”

She placed the flour carefully in a jar and patted it gently.

Outside, the breeze carried the scent through the yard, but her friends were too busy to notice.

Part 4: The Smell of Fresh Bread – A Tempting Aroma

The next morning, the Little Red Hen sprang out of bed, full of cheer.

“Today’s the day!” she clucked. “I have flour, and I’m going to bake a warm, golden loaf of bread!”

She washed her wings, tied on her little apron, and began to mix the ingredients: flour, a pinch of salt, a splash of water, and just a touch of sugar. She stirred and kneaded and shaped the dough into a round loaf.

Soon, the bread was baking in the oven, and the whole farmhouse filled with the delicious smell of fresh bread—soft, warm, and golden.

Outside, the Lazy Dog’s nose twitched.
The Silly Cat licked her lips.
The Noisy Duck stopped splashing and sniffed the air.

“Mmmm… something smells tasty!” quacked the duck.

The animals followed their noses straight to the kitchen window, where the Little Red Hen was placing the steaming loaf on the table.

“Who will help me eat this bread?” the Little Red Hen asked sweetly.

“I will!” barked the Lazy Dog, wagging his tail.

“Me too!” purred the Silly Cat, licking her whiskers.

“Quack! I’ll take a big slice!” said the Noisy Duck excitedly.

But the Little Red Hen looked at them with kind but serious eyes.

“None of you helped plant the wheat. Or harvest it. Or grind it. Or bake it,” she said gently. “So, I will eat this bread—by myself.”

And with that, she took a small, warm bite. The bread was soft and fluffy, and it filled her heart with pride. Outside, her friends looked at each other and said nothing—but their ears drooped and their tummies grumbled.

Part 5: A Taste of Teamwork – Learning to Share and Help

The next morning, the Lazy Dog, Silly Cat, and Noisy Duck were waiting by the barn door with droopy ears, whiskers, and feathers.

They looked at the Little Red Hen and said softly,
“We’re sorry. We should have helped you.”

The hen tilted her head. “Really?” she asked, surprised.

“Yes,” said the dog. “Next time, I’ll help plant the seeds.”

“I’ll help carry the wheat!” meowed the cat.

“And I’ll stay out of puddles… at least until the bread is baked,” quacked the duck with a giggle.

The Little Red Hen smiled brightly and fluffed her feathers. “Then let’s do it together!”

And so, the next time she found seeds, they all worked side by side:

• The Lazy Dog dug the holes.
• The Silly Cat carried water.
• The Noisy Duck scared away the crows (with extra loud quacks!).
• And the Little Red Hen led the way with a happy cluck.

When the new loaf of bread was finally ready, its smell filled the house again—warm and inviting.

This time, the Little Red Hen asked, “Who will eat this bread with me?”

“We will!” said her friends in unison.

And she beamed, “So will I. Because we all worked hard and shared the job.”

They sat together, laughing and munching on fresh slices. The bread tasted even better—not just because it was warm and fluffy, but because it was made with teamwork and care.

That night, their bellies were full and their hearts even fuller. As they curled up to sleep, the Little Red Hen whispered,
“Hard work and kindness make the sweetest bread—and the best friends.”

Conclusion

From that day on, the Little Red Hen and her friends never forgot the lesson they learned. They worked together, played together, and helped one another whenever they could.

The dog became a proud digger, the cat a careful carrier, and even the duck became the best wheat-watching guard in the meadow!

They still loved bread, of course—but more than that, they loved the feeling of doing something as a team. And every bedtime, with warm slices in their paws, they remembered:

Helping isn’t just kind—it makes everything taste better.

So, little dreamers, as you snuggle in bed tonight, remember: when you lend a hand, you help grow something special—friendship.

Goodnight, and may your dreams rise like warm bread.

Moral of the Story

“If you want to enjoy the reward, you must be willing to do the work.”

“Many hands make light work.” – John Heywood

This short story for kids teaches the value of hard work, fairness, and sharing, making it a perfect animal bedtime story to read before sleep.

FAQ

Q1: What is the main message of The Little Red Hen?
A: It teaches children about responsibility, teamwork, and earning rewards through effort.

Q2: Why didn’t the hen share the bread at first?
A: Because her friends didn’t help with any of the work, so she taught them a gentle lesson about fairness.

Q3: What makes this a good bedtime story for kids?
A: It’s short, warm, and meaningful—with lovable animals and a message children can understand easily.

Did you enjoy this bedtime story? Then check out our other magical short stories for kids to make bedtime even more special!