Hen Hears Gossip

by Megan McDonald

Book Overview

Hen hears Pig whisper a secret to Cow ("Psst. Psst. Psst."),
and in no time at all Hen tells Duck ("Psst. Psst. Psst.")
who tells Goose ("Psst. Psst. Psst.")
who tells Turkey ("Psst. Psst. Psst.")
who tells Hen ("Psst. Psst. Psst.")
something not so nice about Hen herself.
"Whhaat?"

Hen is outraged. She's got to figure out who's behind the rumor. But will she discover even more than she bargained for?

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061138762
• ISBN13: 9780061138768
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 9.3" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Psst, psst, psst ... this is an excellent read aloud and discuss tale about NOT gossiping!

The hen was in the barnyard when she overheard Pig saying something to Cow. People, let alone animals, shouldn't listen to gossip nor spread it, but like many "Hen loved gossip!" She listened very closely so to them so she could rush off to relay whatever tidbits they had to offer to her friends. "Psst. Psst. Psst." Gossiping was really not a nice thing to do, but off she went to tell Duck that Sadie dog had a thorn stuck in him. Oh, my! Now Duck, also a good one for gossip went off to tell Goose that "Daisy the cat grew a horn!" Goose ran off to tell Turkey her version of the tidbit. Turkey ran off to tell Hen that she heard she was "lazy, fat, and ate all the corn!" Oh, my! That was not at all true, but by the time Hen's message went full circle, it was altogether different from when she started. Trying to figure out just what happened Turkey and Hen started back through the trail of the gossip to find out just what went wrong. It turns out that Hen, the gal who loved gossip, overheard wrong and they all were in for a big surprise, to say nothing of learning that they should not spread gossip! This simple tale relays an important lesson for children and adults alike. It tells them that gossip is not acceptable and can hurt and upset people (or in this case animals) when it is misinterpreted or twisted. The gentle illustrations are quaint and charming. This would be the perfect tale for read and discussion in a homeschool or classroom setting. Psst, psst, psst . . . let's try NOT to gossip!