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Printable coloring story · Ages 2–5

The Little Red Hen

The classic folk tale of one little hen who does the work and keeps the reward.

Ruby the little red hen finds one grain of wheat and asks her farm friends to help at every step. They refuse to plant, harvest, carry, mix, and knead, so Ruby does the work herself. When the finished loaf is ready, the animals eagerly want to eat it, but Ruby keeps the bread because the friends who refused the work did not earn the reward.

A 10-page story to read, color, and keep

Read, color, learn

Ten little scenes to read and color.

Read one short sentence, color the scene, then pause for the little fact and question. The pages follow the story in order.

  1. 01Page 1
    Ruby the little red hen bends toward one large grain of wheat on a simple farm path; keep the hen, grain, path, and one distant barn as the only clear story elements., printable black-and-white coloring page

    Page 1

    Ruby Finds One Grain

    Ruby the little red hen finds one grain of wheat beside the farm path.

    Little fact

    A grain of wheat is a seed that can grow into a new wheat plant.

    Talk together: Can you find the one grain Ruby discovered?

  2. 02Page 2
    Ruby holds the single grain beside one large empty soil patch while Pip the cat, Moss the dog, and Daisy the duck gently cross their paws or wings and refuse to help plant it., printable black-and-white coloring page

    Page 2

    The Friends Refuse to Plant

    Ruby asks who will help plant the grain, but the cat, dog, and duck all refuse.

    Little fact

    Seeds need a safe place in soil before they can begin to grow.

    Talk together: Which friends are turning away from Ruby's question?

  3. 03Page 3
    Ruby alone gently presses the single grain into one clear planting hole in the large soil patch; no friend helps and no tall plant has appeared yet., printable black-and-white coloring page

    Page 3

    Ruby Plants the Grain Herself

    No one helps, so Ruby plants the grain herself in the soil.

    Little fact

    Soil holds a seed in place while its first roots and shoot begin to grow.

    Talk together: Who is planting the grain by herself?

  4. 04Page 4
    Ruby gestures toward a broad patch of tall ripe wheat while Pip, Moss, and Daisy gently turn aside and refuse to help reap it., printable black-and-white coloring page

    Page 4

    The Friends Refuse to Harvest

    When the wheat is tall and ripe, Ruby asks who will help harvest it, but the friends refuse again.

    Little fact

    Wheat plants grow tall stems topped with heads that hold many grains.

    Talk together: Can you find the tall ripe wheat Ruby needs to harvest?

  5. 05Page 5
    Ruby alone gathers broad ripe wheat stalks into one large rounded basket; the friends are absent because she is doing the harvest herself., printable black-and-white coloring page

    Page 5

    Ruby Harvests the Wheat

    Ruby harvests the ripe wheat herself and gathers it into one large basket.

    Little fact

    Harvesting means gathering a crop when it is ready to use.

    Talk together: What is Ruby gathering into the basket?

  6. 06Page 6
    Ruby points from the large wheat basket toward one rounded hand mill while Pip, Moss, and Daisy cross their paws or wings and refuse to carry it., printable black-and-white coloring page

    Page 6

    The Friends Refuse to Go to the Mill

    Ruby asks who will help take the wheat to the mill, but the friends refuse once more.

    Little fact

    A mill grinds grains into smaller pieces that can become flour.

    Talk together: Can you find the basket of wheat and the round hand mill?

  7. 07Page 7
    Ruby walks home alone carrying one large bowl of fresh flour, with the fully visible rounded hand mill behind her and no dough or bread yet., printable black-and-white coloring page

    Page 7

    Ruby Brings Home the Flour

    Ruby carries the wheat to the mill and brings one large bowl of fresh flour home.

    Little fact

    Flour is made when grains such as wheat are ground into a fine powder.

    Talk together: What is Ruby carrying home from the mill?

  8. 08Page 8
    Ruby stands beside one large bowl and one dough ball at a broad table while Pip, Moss, and Daisy cross their paws or wings and refuse to mix or knead., printable black-and-white coloring page

    Page 8

    The Friends Refuse to Knead

    Ruby asks who will help mix and knead the dough, but the friends refuse again.

    Little fact

    Kneading mixes flour and water into a smooth dough that can be baked.

    Talk together: Can you find the bowl, the dough, and the friends refusing to help?

  9. 09Page 9
    Ruby presents one large finished loaf on a table while Pip, Moss, and Daisy eagerly raise a paw or wing to claim they will eat it; none of them is shown helping with the work., printable black-and-white coloring page

    Page 9

    Everyone Wants to Eat the Loaf

    Ruby bakes the loaf herself and asks who will help eat it; suddenly every friend eagerly says, “I will!”

    Little fact

    Baking changes soft dough into a firm loaf of bread with heat.

    Talk together: Who is eager to eat the loaf after refusing the work?

  10. 10Page 10
    Ruby calmly enjoys one piece of bread at the table while Pip, Moss, and Daisy stand beside empty plates with gentle regret; they do not eat, help late, or receive bread., printable black-and-white coloring page

    Page 10

    Ruby Keeps the Bread

    Ruby did the work alone, so she eats the bread herself while the friends learn that refusing the work means missing the reward.

    Little fact

    Bread is a food made from grain, and making it takes several steps of work.

    Talk together: Why does Ruby keep the bread for herself?

Free story book

Print the whole story for a coloring afternoon.

Download all 10 uncolored pages, then read each tiny fact as your child colors from beginning to end.

10 pages · free PDF
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Book language

The cover and picture titles use this language. Some existing prompts and hints teach English and remain in English; read them under “Choose for each picture” before printing.

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