The Little Red Hen

A simple line drawing with a hen surrounded by chicks on the left and a laughing cat with a frilly collar on the right. The text "The Little Red Hen" is in the center in red.
The Little Red Hen, 1918 title page
An illustrated hen wearing a shirt and hat uses a shovel to dig a hole. Golden Book version book cover
An illustrated red hen stands in front of a fence, holds an umbrella, and leans to the left.
The Little Red Hen, illustrated by Florence White Williams

The Little Red Hen is an American fable first collected by Mary Mapes Dodge in St. Nicholas Magazine in 1874.[1] The story is meant to teach children the importance of hard work and personal initiative.

  1. ^ Mary Mapes Dodge (1874). St. Nicholas. Scribner. pp. 680–.