The Little Red Hen
The Hen Who Made Bread
A little red hen lived on a farm. She lived with a cat. And a dog. And a pig.
One day, the hen found some wheat seeds. Golden little seeds, sitting in the dirt.
"Who will help me plant the wheat?" asked the hen.
"Not I," said the cat. She was napping.
"Not I," said the dog. He was digging.
"Not I," said the pig. He was rolling in mud.
"Then I will do it myself," said the hen. And she did.
She planted the seeds. Pat, pat, pat. She watered them every day. Drip, drip, drip.
The wheat grew tall and golden.
"Who will help me cut the wheat?" asked the hen.
"Not I," said the cat.
"Not I," said the dog.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Then I will do it myself," said the hen. And she did.
Snip, snip, snip.
"Who will help me grind the wheat into flour?"
"Not I," said the cat.
"Not I," said the dog.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Then I will do it myself," said the hen. And she did.
Grind, grind, grind.
"Who will help me bake the bread?"
"Not I," said the cat.
"Not I," said the dog.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Then I will do it myself," said the hen.
She mixed the flour. Stir, stir, stir. She put the bread in the oven. And she waited.
The kitchen got warm. The bread got golden. And the smell... oh, the SMELL...
It floated out of the kitchen. It floated past the cat. Past the dog. Past the pig.
Three noses twitched. Three tummies rumbled.
The cat came to the kitchen. The dog came to the kitchen. The pig came to the kitchen.
"Who will help me EAT the bread?" asked the hen.
"I will!" said the cat.
"I will!" said the dog.
"I WILL!" said the pig.
The hen looked at the bread. She looked at the cat and the dog and the pig.
And then she smiled. Because the hen was kind. And the bread was big. And there was enough for everyone.
"Sit down," she said.
She cut four slices. One for the cat. One for the dog. One for the pig. And one for herself.
They ate together. The bread was warm. The butter melted. And it was the best bread any of them had ever tasted.
"Next time," said the cat softly, "I will help."
"Me too," said the dog.
"Me too," said the pig.
The hen smiled.
And when all the bread was gone... and the kitchen was quiet... and the oven was cool... the four friends sat together in the warm room... the cat curled on the chair... the dog on the rug... the pig on a cushion... and the little red hen on her soft nest in the corner...
And the farm was still... and the stars came out... and four tummies were full of warm bread... and four friends were full of warm feelings...
And they slept.
Shhhh.
A toddler-friendly retelling of The Little Red Hen. A busy little hen finds wheat, plants it, harvests it, and bakes bread — asking for help at every step. But the cat, the dog, and the pig all say "Not I!" until they smell the bread. With simple repetition and a warm ending, this 3-minute audio story is perfect for bedtime with children ages 2-3. Free to listen.
This version shows that doing the work matters — but also that kindness means sharing even with those who didn't help.
This short, repetitive version is for toddlers ages 2 to 3.
Yes. This folk tale (first published 1874) is in the public domain.
Beautifully narrated bedtime stories with soothing sounds to help your little ones drift off to sleep.
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