Hens for Friends

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.