The Story Behind the Story – “A Haircut for Britches”

It’s sheep-shearing time!

Here in northern Wisconsin, spring is just around the corner, and that means it’s time for the sheep on neighboring farms to be relieved of their dense wool coats before lambing season begins. So each year in the early spring, the itinerant sheep shearer comes to our area and the fun begins!

But not everyone is as excited about that as I am…

In the short story “A Haircut for Britches” (included in All About Reading Level 3), Britches is afraid to be sheared. You see, one of the older sheep teasingly tells him that the farmer will turn his wool into a rug. That is a scary thought to young Britches—he doesn’t want people walking on his wool!

In this decodable story, readers find out what happens when Britches manages to hide from the farmer and avoid getting sheared.

Read Britches’ Story Here!

We wanted you to be able to see firsthand what shearing is all about, so we visited Whataview Farm during their annual sheep shearing and took a few pictures of the action.

Just like Britches in the story, this little beauty wasn’t too happy about the situation.

But unlike Britches, she didn’t manage to escape the shears.

It was fascinating to see how the shearer removes the wool all in one piece.

After being relieved of her warm coat, the sheep hopped up and joined her sisters. (I really wanted to pet the naked sheep!)

Free of their heavy winter coats, these sheep will fare much better in the summer heat than poor Britches did!

What is your favorite All About Reading story? Would you like to hear the “story behind the story” for your favorite?

Read more about the inspiration behind the short stories in the All About Reading program!

(A special thanks to Whataview Farm for opening their farm to us, and to Dan Johnson of Fox Hill Photo for manning the camera!)