Ryers Readers - Sesame Street Presents: The Little Red Hen

Episode Date: June 3, 2022

The gang on Sesame Street put on a play about the importance of helping a friend!

Let's do this. Thank you so much for tuning into today's story. Don't forget to tell your grown-up to go check out the Ryer's Readers' Instagram for more fun content. Before we get into the story, do you want to know a fun fact? Did you know that pigs are one of the smartest animals, even smarter than dogs? They have a great memory and can remember things for years. like places to find food, how to use objects, and even recognize and remember people. Pretty cool, huh?

Okay, story time. The Sesame Street Players present The Little Red Hen, starring Bert as the Little Red Hen, and featuring Ernie as the dog, Grover as the sheep, Hairy Monster as the pig, Cookie Monster as the cow. Directed by Prairie Dawn and written by Emily Pearl Kingsley. Oh welcome, oh welcome to our little play.

We are ever so glad you can join us today. Let's open the curtain, our settings of farm. So let's meet our star coming out of the barn. I am a chicken called Little Red Hen. One day I was wandering out of my. pen when what should I spy lying under a weed but a bright shiny kernel a beautiful seed so the little red hen called her friends small and big first a dog then a cow then a sheep then a pig she told them a small bit of help she would need and asked

who will help me to plant this fine seed not I said the dog I have bones I must dig. Not I, said the sheep. Why try the pig? Not I, said the pig, I must roll in the mud. Not I, said the cow, I'm still chewing my cud. Ah, forget it, said the little red hen. I'll plant it myself. You friends wouldn't help me plant the seed that I found, so I did it myself. Now it's safe in the ground. But dirt isn't all that that plant will need, so who will help me to water the seed. Not I, said the sheep, my wool I must comb. Not I, said the cow, I'm writing a poem.

Not I, said the dog as he frolicked and played. The pig said I'd rather go lay in the shade. The little red hen weeded, watered and all, and in the time the small plant grew up sturdy and tall. Then she came to her farm friends quite early one morn and said, Who will help me to harvest the corn? Not I, said the pig, it's time for my swim. Not I, said the dog, I'll be swimming with him.

Not I, said the sheep, though I'd love to say yes. I'm meeting the cow, we've got a date to play chess. So the little red hen picked the corn by herself. Then she got down her grinder, from the top of the shelf. Head sent to her friends, I hope you won't mind pitching right in and helping to grind.

Not I, said the sheep, I'm off to a show. Not I, said the dog. I have bubbles to blow. Not I, said the pig, I'm riding my swing. Not I, said the cow, grinding corn's not my thing.

So the little red hen ground the corn into flour. She beat in some eggs. It took over an hour. Then she said to her friends, well, you didn't help make them, but these are corn muffins. Now who will help me bake them? Not I, said the cow. My flies I am swishing. Not I, said the dog, I'm off to go fishing. Not I, said the pig. In the sand, I am rolling. Not I, said the sheep, it's my day to go bowling. My muffins are baked now. They're hot and delicious.

They're made of my corn, which is good and nutritious. You didn't help plant them or grind them or beat them, but now that they're finished, who will help me eat them? I will, said the dog. Those muffins smell neat. I will, said the pig. I'm ready to eat. I will, said the cow. At the table she sat, the sheep said, I'm never too busy for that.

Now hold it, said the hen in her angriest tone. I planted and nurtured and baked all alone. You all were too busy to help, so you see, these lovely corn muffins will be eaten by me. Then the dog and the pig and the cow and the sheep were so disappointed. They wanted to weep. The moral of our story is easy to see. If I help you, then you ought to help me. When friends help each other, that's a much better way. And that is the end of today's little play.

Thanks, everybody, said Prairie Dawn after the play was over. You were all very good, but listen, before we eat up those corn muffins, who will help me put the scenery and the costumes and the makeup away? Not I, said Ernie, I have to go to my juggling lesson. Not I, said Harry, I have to buy my pet canary a new pair of sneakers. Not I, said Cookie Monster. Me have to go put teddy bear down for his nap. Grover said, I think I hear my mommy calling me.

Hey, you guys, said Prairie Dawn. Didn't you learn anything from today's play? Oh, Prairie Dawn, said Ernie. We were only kidding. Of course we'll help. And so Ernie and Grover and Bert and Harry and Cookie and Prairie Dawn put away all the scenery and costumes and makeup and ate up all the corn muffins. The end. Don't forget to stick around and see if you can answer. answer today's paying attention question.

Before you go, do you think you can answer today's paying attention question? The little red hen worked really hard all by herself and eventually baked something to eat. What did the little red hen end up baking? If your answer was corn muffins, you did it. Great job! You sure were paying attention.

attention. Thank you so much for listening to today's story. I wonder what we're going to read next.