Heather Forest’s lively retelling of this classic story is paired with Susan Gaber’s witty, wonderful illustrations. Gaber’s palette is warm and comforting, while her images inspire laugh-out-loud moments of humor. The dog, cat, and mouse the Little Red Hen repeatedly asks for help are three doe-eyed creatures sweet enough to rival the most saccharine baby animal portrait. But all are too busy playing (or, in the mouse’s case, reading translations of the word “mouse” in multiple languages) to help the hard-working hen. Can the wild-eyed chicken resist their limpid pools when the bread is hot and fresh? You bet she can! “Now . . . when the little Red Hen wants to bake, everyone helps to make the cake.” (Ages 4–7)