fables folktales · Ages 6-8

The Little Hen Who Counted the Helpers

A hen does each hard step of making bread alone, then shows her friends that sharing the feast begins with sharing the work.

The whole story

1. At sunrise, a small golden-brown hen carried a basket to the wheat field. She wanted to bake a warm loaf for supper.

2. The wheat was ripe and golden. “Who will help me cut it?” asked the hen. “Not I,” said the goose. “Not I,” said the goat. “Not I,” said the pig.

3. “Then I will,” said the hen. She bent, cut, and tied the wheat into bundles. By noon, her wings were dusty.

4. The hen carried the bundles to the mill. “Who will grind the grain?” she asked. “Not I,” said the goose, the goat, and the pig.

5. “Then I will,” said the hen. She turned the heavy mill until the grain became soft white flour. Her apron grew white, too.

6. The hen measured flour, water, yeast, and honey. “Who will knead the dough?” she asked. “Not I,” came three voices from the yard.

7. “Then I will,” said the hen. She pushed and folded the dough until it was smooth. It puffed up like a little cloud.

8. The dough rested, and then the hen carried it to the oven. “Who will bake the loaf?” she asked. “Not I,” said the goose, the goat, and the pig.

9. “Then I will,” said the hen. She fed the oven and waited beside it. Soon the loaf turned brown and fragrant.

10. At sunset, the loaf was ready. The goose, goat, and pig hurried in. “We will help eat it!” they cried.

11. The hen placed one pebble for cutting, one for grinding, one for kneading, and one for baking. “I counted four hard jobs,” she said.

12. The friends looked at the flour on the floor and the tired hen. Their hungry smiles faded. “We should have helped,” said the goat.

13. The goose fetched plates. The goat brought water. The pig cleared the table. The hen sliced the loaf, and this time they shared the work.

14. The bread was warm, sweet, and crisp. The friends ate every crumb. Sharing the feast had begun with sharing the work.

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