The Sesame Street Players Present the Little Red Hen
Featuring Jim Henson's Sesame Street Muppets
By: Emily Perl Kingsley
About This Book
The Sesame Street Muppets put on a play about the little red hen who plants a seed, grows corn, and makes a batch of corn muffins, all without the help of her friends.
AI Overview
Title: The Sesame Street Players Present the Little Red Hen Author: Emily Perl Kingsley Illustrator: Tom Cooke Publisher: Golden Press Release Date: 1981
Key Themes
Teamwork and Responsibility: The story emphasizes the importance of working together and contributing to a common goal. The Little Red Hen asks for help from her friends to plant, harvest, and bake a loaf of bread, but they all refuse, leading to her doing everything herself.
Self-Reliance: The hen's determination and self-reliance are highlighted as she completes all the tasks despite her friends' lack of assistance.
Friendship and Loyalty: The story also touches on the theme of friendship and loyalty, as the hen's friends ultimately benefit from her hard work but do not show gratitude or help.
Plot Summary
The book is an adaptation of the classic children's tale "The Little Red Hen." The Sesame Street gang, including characters like Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird, come together to retell the story in their own unique way. Here’s a brief summary:
Introduction: The story begins with the Little Red Hen finding a wheat seed and asking her friends if they want to help her plant it. Each of her friends (Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird) refuses, saying they are too busy.
Planting: The hen plants the seed by herself and asks for help again when it is time to water it. Once more, her friends refuse.
Harvesting: After the wheat grows, the hen asks for help harvesting it. Again, her friends decline.
Baking: Finally, when the wheat is ready to be baked into bread, the hen asks for help one last time. This time, her friends are hungry and eager to eat the bread but refuse to help with the baking.
Conclusion: The hen bakes the bread by herself and then asks her friends if they want to eat it. They all agree, but she says they should have helped her earlier. The story ends with a lesson about teamwork and responsibility.
Critical Reception
While specific critical reviews for this particular adaptation are not readily available, adaptations of "The Little Red Hen" are generally well-received for their ability to teach children important life lessons in a fun and engaging manner. The Sesame Street version likely benefits from the popularity and trustworthiness of the Sesame Street brand, making it an effective tool for early childhood education.
Edition Details
- Format: Hardcover
- Language: English
- ISBN: 9780307231352
- Publisher: Western Pub. Co.
- Release Date: January 1992
- Length: 25 Pages
- Weight: 0.57 lbs.
The book is part of the Sesame Street Book Club series and is available in various formats, including vintage editions on Etsy.