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The Little Red Elf
Product Code: 92360 ISBN: 978-1-58089-236-0 Ages: 2 - 7 Availability: In stock. Price: $14.95 Shop A Local Bookstore
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. This book is good for your brain because: Early Childhood Literacy, Christmas Traditions, Friendship  Download the cover image! If you like this book, you'll love these: Reviews For Immediate Release--Kids! - August 2, 2009
I think most people are aware of the story of the Little Red Hen. A classic tale where the hen does all the work to make a loaf of bread, from planting the wheat to baking the bread. None of the animals have the time to help her ... until it comes to eating the bread. Suddenly, the busy parties have all the time in the world to help with the tasty part. To the readers' satisfaction, the hen declares that only those who helped with the work shall enjoy the spoils.Little Red Elf is the adorable Christmas adaptation of this classic story. Little red elf lives in a cozy workshop at the North Pole with a reindeer, a penguin and a hare. While the elf toils in the workshop, the reindeer prefers to snooze, the penguin enjoys long bubble baths and the hare slumbers by the fireplace. Little red elf has a positive attitude and a strong work ethic. While the others loaf, she cleans the workshop, fetches the mail and polishes the sleigh. One day little red elf stumbles upon some pinecones that she knows would make beautiful Christmas decorations. Unsurprisingly, none of the others have the time to help plant or water the pinecones. They certainly couldn't be bothered to help cut down the tree and haul it into the workshop, nor festoon it with festive lights and sparkly decorations. Little red elf does all of this herself. The others only show interest in the tree project when the presents appear! They are practically falling over themselves to lend a hand then. Little red elf takes the opportunity to teach the others a lesson, in a nice way. The illustrations by Rosalinde Bonnet are just too darn precious! By far, the most adorable interpretation of this story that I have ever seen. The woodland creatures are just bursting with cuteness. Even the mice have their own underground city with a tiny stove and miniature four poster beds in their mouse house. The book's adorable factor is tempered by the humor, reaching a fine balance. The animals toss off snide one-liners, such as the hare claiming to be allergic to helping. The end result is a great Christmas book to add to your collection. Curled Up with a Good Kid's Book - August 25, 2009
There is no hen in The Little Red Elf, nor is anyone is baking bread, but you can still tell it’s an adaptation of the children’s folktale “The Little Red Hen.” In this new book by Barbara Barbieri McGrath, the Little Red Hen has been replaced by the Little Red Elf, and the farmyard animals have been replaced by a hare, a reindeer, and a penguin. The Little Red Elf, which is set in the North Pole, begins with an open view of Santa’s workshop and ends with a surprise on Christmas morning.Just like the Little Red Hen, the Little Red Elf is a good worker - but she needs some help. She asks the hare, the reindeer, and the penguin to help her grow a pine tree, but they all make excuses. The hare is always too tired, and the penguin and the reindeer are always too busy playing. The only time they want to help the Little Red Elf is on Christmas morning. There are lots of presents to unwrap that morning. They race to the tree to open them, but what they see inside the presents gives them big, red cheeks and worried looks in their eyes. Hare, Reindeer, and Penguin look embarrassed, but the Little Red Elf appears happy. Santa has managed to send the “perfect gifts.” Although her three friends won’t help her, the Little Red Elf is never alone. When she’s outside planting the pine cone, birds surround her and perch on her hat. When she waters the pine tree, mice come out of their homes to see what she’s doing. When she brings the pine tree into the workshop, several animals follow her in. Personalities are revealed on the first page of this story by giving readers an inside look at the workshop. Everyone is relaxing except the Little Red Elf. She works in the toy shop while Hare drags his blanket downstairs, Penguin gets ready for a bath, and Reindeer rests in his hay. The Little Red Elf works from 9am to 4pm while the others do whatever they want. They especially like to say “no” to work. The reindeer is the politest of the group when he says no to the Little Red Elf, saying “Not I.” The penguin says things like “What’s with all the questions?” and the hare mumbles “Did someone say something?” The pale blue skies and light yellow backgrounds, along with the views of the snow falling outside, give this story a quiet, calm feel. In addition, Christmas garland decorates the top of many pages of the last few pages of the book, and different-colored stars and snowflakes are scattered throughout, reminding readers of Christmas magic. This holiday adaptation of “The Little Red Hen” teaches children the importance of helping one another. It may also make some adults chuckle as it shows that Santa is always watching! Barbara Barbieri McGrath was a preschool teacher for sixteen years. A graduate of Lasell College, Barbara is the author of the children’s books Soccer Counts! and The Little Green Witch. She lives in Massachusetts. Rosalinde Bonnet used acrylic paint and black ballpoint pen for her illustrations in The Little Red Elf. Her animals look cute because they are small and round, and her elf looks sweet and cheerful because of her Christmas outfit, her wide-open eyes, and her little smile. Bonnet has illustrated several children’s pictures book from her home in France. School Library Journal - October 1, 2009
The little red elf has a bunch of lazy housemates–a reindeer, a penguin, and a hare–who won’t help out in the toy workshop or assist her in planting and caring for a little pine tree. When the tree is grown, she digs it up, decorates it, and bakes cookies. The next morning, she asks, “Who will help me open the presents?” Only then do the housemates volunteer. In a sly wink from Santa, the presents turn out to be toy Little Red Hens. This sweet version is simply told but includes plenty of funny asides (“Well, I love being busy!” the little red elf exclaims after yet another failed attempt to get help). The acrylic and ballpoint-pen illustrations are full of childlike humor, depicting cute North Pole characters who look like toys themselves. This is that rare beast–an endearing holiday book without a hint of treacle.
Kirkus Reviews - September 15, 2009
A cute little elf in red overalls and stocking cap is an efficient worker who gets everthing done herself including making toys for Santa. She lives with her friends--a reindeer, a penguin and a hare--but they prefer to sleep or play rather than help with household taks. When the little red elf finds a pine cone and plants it the plot then follows the structure of "The Little Red Hen." The little elf does all the preparations for Chirstmas herself while her friends lie around, but then they want to open all the presents on Christmas morning. In a clever twist, the many presents for the lazy ones are all stuffed little-red-hen toys. Bonnet's illustrations are bright and cheerful, with a sweet elf and comical creatures as the nonhelpers.
Publishers Weekly - October 26, 2009
McGrath recasts the Little Red Hen folktale in a holiday setting. A hardworking elf lives at a North Pole workshop with three lazy but likable toys: a reindeer, rabbit and penguin. The elf asks for help growing and decorating a pine tree along with other Christmas activities, but all three toys decline. Finally, the elf has a meltdown. Readers will giggle at the ne'er-do-well toys in Bonnet's sweetly amusing acrylic and pen illustrations (the reindeer floats Christmas ornaments in the tub), but the punch line—the gifts under the tree are all red hens—may require explanation.
The Horn Book - November 1, 2009
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.
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