Vera Southgate (1916–1995)

There are a lot of plotholes in this that bug me every time I read it to junior. like if the witch needs rapunzels hair to climb the tower, how does she get up there to talk to the prince after she's banished rapunzel ?
Also, am concerned at addictive quality of 'salad' in this story. I don't know anyone addicted to salad like the woman in this story. and her husband is a simpleton. Maybe I shouldn't take it so seriously ?

This little old easy-reader is a delightful edition. The illustrations are of a realistic farmyard and village, with human farmers doing their work in the background. Because the animals don't live in a house, the hen enlists the help of a miller and a baker, communicating simply by context. Otherwise, there's no change in the barebones version of the classic story, not even any chicks.

There's no need for any of you to seek this out, but I'm glad that I did.

Despite remembering little about this tale now, I think rating it five stars equates to how much I enjoyed this story when I read it numerous times as a child.

I do recall the basic plot for this, however, and in fact remember more about this title than most books read during my pre-teens. Thus, Red Hen every so often asks three other animals if they will help her with such and such a task, to which she always receives the following replies:

"Not I," said the pig.

"Not I," said the cat.

"Not I," show more said the rat.

I remember the above because even to this day I sometimes quote these responses to myself (in a non-crazy way) when I don't want to do something. Funny how certain unusual aspects of one's childhood last deep into adulthood, perhaps forever.

Possible spoiler coming up, so don't read on if you genuinely want to read this without any clue to the ending.

Anyway, the three animals' answers all change to "I will" at the end when Red Hen asks who'll help her eat her wheat (or something containing wheat), but quite rightfully she tells the others to sod off, though of course she puts it more eloquently than me.

Reckon 1984 would be the last time I read it, but it's hard to be accurate all these years on.

Recommended to anyone aged in single figures or for grown-ups feeling nostalgic. show less

Despite remembering hardly a thing about this tale now, I think rating it five stars equates to how much I enjoyed this story when I read it countless times as a child.

Reckon 1984 would be the last time I read it, but it's hard to be accurate all these years on.

Recommended to anyone aged in single figures or for grown-ups feeling nostalgic.