Hungry Hen: questions to ask and activities to try
Hen eats and eats; Fox waits and waits. Hungry Hen is a very simple, very funny story with a brilliant twist that little ones love to read again and again.
What age is it for? Hungry Hen is best for ages 2–6. Good for: A very simple story with a brilliant twist.
Hungry Hen (Richard Waring and Caroline Jayne Church)
- Age
- 2-6
- Best for
- A very simple story with a brilliant twist
Build the suspense as Fox gets thinner and Hen gets fatter, then enjoy the twist together. Ask your child whether Fox should have waited, or not tried at all.
What it helps with
- Waiting, patience and impatience
- Predicting what will happen
- Laughing at a twist ending
- Simple words for early readers
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What did Hungry Hen do all day?”
- “What was the fox doing?”
- “Why did the fox get thinner?”
- “What happened at the end?”
- “Were you surprised?”
- “What do you think the fox learned?”
5-minute activities to try together
Guess the ending
Before reading another short story, ask your child to guess the ending, then see if they were right.
Hen and fox
Play a chasing game where the hen has a safe spot. Talk about how the hen stayed clever.
Free printables: Hungry Hen worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
Free. We’ll only email you if you tick the box.
If your child liked this, try
The Gruffalo (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler)
- Best for
- Feeling scared, and using your wits
- Age
- 3-6
The Tiger Who Came to Tea (Judith Kerr)
- Best for
- Coping calmly when plans change unexpectedly
- Age
- 2-6
Handa's Surprise (Eileen Browne)
- Best for
- Giving to a friend, guessing, and a funny surprise
- Age
- 2-6
Search all our books by what's happening →
By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.