Who will help the little red elf prepare for Christmas? This clever retelling of "The Little Red Hen" features a little red elf and her lazy friends- the hare, the penguin, and the reindeer. When the cheerful elf can't get help planting the pinecones or decorating the Christmas tree, she knows just how to reward her friends.
The little red elf is used to doing everything herself while her
friends the reindeer, the penguin, and the hare laze around the
workshop. It comes as no surprise that her cheerful requests for
help preparing for Christmas are quickly dismissed. "'Who will help
me put out milk and cookies?' 'Not I,' said the reindeer. 'Why
bother saying yes now?' said the penguin. 'I'm allergic,' said the
hare." On Christmas morning, however, everyone is more than eager
to assist in opening presents. Bonnet's more-than-helpful
illustrations give an extra-festive boost to McGrath's already
spirited version of a familiar tale. Even at their cheekiest, the
reindeer, penguin, and hare look friendly and cuddly. The little
red elf's "most positive of attitudes" shines through in the text
and art, but the pictures also hint that, like her predecessor,
she's no chump. Speaking of whom, the little red hen herself makes
a cameo appearance in the poetically just ending.
—The Horn Book
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