Hens for Friends

March 1, 2015
Aaron loves all his family's chickens, but Rhode Island Red Margaret is his special favorite. It's no wonder, as Margaret has an especially fetching expression in Hansen's line-and-watercolor illustrations, which take advantage of natural chicken physiognomy to endow Margaret and the rest of the flock with demure "smiles." They make it clear that it's not just the eggs that spur Aaron's devotion. In a simple, personable narration, Aaron tells readers that his family got their flock from Mother Hen Chicken Rescue after the city council passed an ordinance allowing residents to keep the birds. He explains how they house, care for, and feed the chickens, gather eggs, and use the composted "poop" in their garden. When Aaron remarks that the chickens' dust baths look like fun, his mother soberly explains that factory-farm chickens live in decidedly worse conditions. With that one exception, De Lisle keeps the tone light, ending the story with a birthday cake for little brother Eduardo made with Margaret's eggs. Backmatter explains more about chicken keeping, offers tips on chicken care, and for readers prepared to keep them responsibly, suggests resources for chicken adoption. Margaret and the rest of the flock are depicted on the endpapers, but it's a shame that they are not specifically identified by breed. That Aaron and his family are Latino is just icing on the cake in this engaging introduction to keeping backyard chickens. (Picture book. 5-8)

April 1, 2015

K-Gr 3-Aaron and his family happily raise six hens adopted from Mother Hen Chicken Rescue. While he gives each of them special attention and protection, Aaron is especially devoted to Margaret, who readily purrs much like a cat whenever he strokes her back. Though many people in the unnamed city express a dislike for the potentially disease-carrying creatures that attract rodents, the city council passes a law permitting each family to keep up to six hens. The author explains how to avoid potential problems by keeping the coop clean, chicken feed covered, and hands continually washed. While the focus of the story is the boy's friendship with his hen, the narrative is chock-full of practical information about keeping these unlikely pets. In simple format, De Lisle spares no detail about the daily maintenance necessary, from the morning ritual of freeing hens into the yard, filling feeders with food and fresh water, and carefully gathering eggs, to putting the chickens to roost at night. She even describes the benefits of composting using hen poop. Hansen's cheerful line-and-watercolor illustrations complement the text well, depicting a pleasant Latino boy and hens that faintly yet distinctly smile back at him in response. VERDICT A useful and accessible choice for anyone truly interested in raising poultry.-Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY

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