Henny Penny
An acorn falls on Henny-penny's head, and she is sure the sky is falling, so she sets off to tell the king with Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey and Turkey-lurkey. Sly Foxy-woxy offers to show them the way, but at the dark hole of his cave they turn tail and run home just in time.
Scene 1: Whack!
Henny Penny. One day, Henny-penny was picking up corn in the cornyard, under a big old oak tree. When, whack! Something hit her upon the head. Henny-penny cried: “Goodness gracious me! The sky’s a-going to fall! I must go and tell the king.”
Scene 2: Cocky-locky
So she went along, and she went along, and she went along, till she met Cocky-locky. Cocky-locky asked: “Where are you going, Henny-penny?” Henny-penny said: “Oh! I’m going to tell the king the sky’s a-falling.” Cocky-locky asked: “May I come with you?” Henny-penny said: “Certainly.” So Henny-penny and Cocky-locky went to tell the king the sky was falling.
Scene 3: Along the Road
They went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they met Ducky-daddles. Ducky-daddles asked: “Where are you going to, Henny-penny and Cocky-locky?” They said: “Oh! We’re going to tell the king the sky’s a-falling.” So Ducky-daddles came too. Then they met Goosey-poosey, and Goosey-poosey came too. Then they met Turkey-lurkey. Turkey-lurkey asked: “May I come with you?” They all said: “Why, certainly, Turkey-lurkey!” So Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey and Turkey-lurkey all went to tell the king the sky was a-falling.
Scene 4: Foxy-woxy
So they went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they met Foxy-woxy. Foxy-woxy asked: “Where are you going, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey and Turkey-lurkey?” They all said: “We’re going to tell the king the sky’s a-falling.” Foxy-woxy said: “Oh! But this is not the way to the king. I know the proper way. Shall I show it you?” They all said: “Why, certainly, Foxy-woxy.”
Scene 5: The Dark Hole
So they went along, till they came to a narrow and dark hole. Now this was the door of Foxy-woxy’s cave! Foxy-woxy said: “This is the short way to the king’s palace. You’ll soon get there if you follow me. I will go first, and you come after.” So Foxy-woxy went into his cave. He didn’t go very far, but turned round to wait for them. But Cocky-locky peeped into the dark, and he saw two hungry eyes and a mouth full of sharp teeth. He called out to Henny-penny, and they all turned tail and ran back home, as fast as they could go!
Scene 6: Only an Acorn
So they never told the king the sky was a-falling. And what had hit Henny-penny upon the head? Only a little acorn, fallen from the big old oak tree. The sky had not fallen at all. Don’t believe everything you hear. Find out what is true before you run and tell.
Moral: Don't believe everything you hear. Find out what is true before you run and tell.
Questions about Henny Penny
What was Henny-penny doing when something hit her upon the head?
Picking up corn in the cornyard.
Who did Henny-penny want to tell that the sky was falling?
The king.
Who was the first friend to come with Henny-penny?
Cocky-locky.
What did Cocky-locky see when he peeped into the dark hole?
Two hungry eyes and sharp teeth.
What had really hit Henny-penny upon the head?
A little acorn.
More stories to read aloud
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears — While the Three Bears take a walk until their porridge cools, a little girl called Goldilocks walks into their house and tries their porridge, chairs and beds.
- Hansel and Gretel — Left in the forest, Hansel and Gretel find their way home by moonlit white pebbles, but the next time birds eat their breadcrumbs and they come to a house of bread and cake.
- Jack and the Beanstalk — Jack swaps the family cow for a handful of magic beans, and overnight they grow into a beanstalk that reaches the sky.