Little Cock Feather Frock is a Russian folk tale for children, adopted by A.N. Tolstoi. The version I am referring to is translated from the Russian language by Eugene Felgenhauer and illustrated by E. Rachev, from the Soviet Children’s Library printed in the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics. It’s a slim volume but packed with great illustrations.

Little Cock Feather Frock is a  great rural farm story which includes a cock, blackbird and cat who are happy co-habiting with each other. The story commences:

• “Little cock, Feather frock, With your comb so red, And your glossy head, Will you look out, please, I will give you some peas”.

This is what the cat and the blackbird would say to the little cock who stayed behind in the house whilst the cat and the blackbird went to work in the woods.

On return, the Little Cock would tell them what happened during the day such as: “Boys and girls ran by today, And scattered wheat upon the way. The hens are pecking it in flocks, But won’t give any to little cocks”.

At the climax of the story, a fox comes along and abducts the “Little Cock”; however, have no fear, for the cat and the blackbird come to its rescue, and yes, they all live happily ever after.

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