This was my grandmother's favorite tale to tell. I didn't get the book until I was an adult. ( )

Despite remembering little about this tale now, I think rating it five stars equates to how much I enjoyed this story when I read it numerous times as a child.

I do recall the basic plot for this, however, and in fact remember more about this title than most books read during my pre-teens. Thus, Red Hen every so often asks three other animals if they will help her with such and such a task, to which she always receives the following replies:

"Not I," said the pig.

"Not I," said the cat.

"Not I," said the rat.

I remember the above because even to this day I sometimes quote these responses to myself (in a non-crazy way) when I don't want to do something. Funny how certain unusual aspects of one's childhood last deep into adulthood, perhaps forever.

Possible spoiler coming up, so don't read on if you genuinely want to read this without any clue to the ending.

Anyway, the three animals' answers all change to "I will" at the end when Red Hen asks who'll help her eat her wheat (or something containing wheat), but quite rightfully she tells the others to sod off, though of course she puts it more eloquently than me.

Reckon 1984 would be the last time I read it, but it's hard to be accurate all these years on.

Recommended to anyone aged in single figures or for grown-ups feeling nostalgic. ( )