Little Red Hen is a time-tested cautionary tale about how we reap what we sow. When the hen asks a cat, dog, and mouse for help planting some wheat, she gets no takers: " Not Isaid the cat. Not Isaid the dog. Not Isaid the mouse." They won t water, cut, or grind the wheat . . . or help bake a cake with it, either. So guess who eats the cake by herself in the end? The Caldecott Honor artist Paul Galdone s delightfully detailed ink and wash illustrations packed with charming details add plenty of sly humor to the well-loved story that not only offers a sage message but also shows children what it takes to make a cake from the ground up "