A disarming fairy tale for our times, featuring Sprout, the hen who dream of rearing her very own chick from her very own egg. That never happens, but this indomitable bird has a way of making her dream come partly true in a satisfying, charmingly written clarion call for independence, motherhood and resilience. ( )

This book had been on my to-read list FOREVER. Somewhere I saw this described as a Korean Charlotte's Web, and I think that is just about perfect. A farmyard of anthropomorphized animals, an extremely earnest narrator, with the farms as The Man who won't just Let The Animals Live! Messages of following your dreams, resilience, and self-sacrifice, while also side-eyeing scarcity mentality. Less focused on winning the state fair and more focused on not getting eaten by Weasel. A fast read appropriate for kids and adults alike. ( )

Lovely, sad fable about a hen craving freedom, motherhood, and a place in the world.

Sprout is 'just' a hen but in wanting her independence she becomes strong, capable, smart and caring. Having a 'baby' gives her life true purpose.

Beautiful!

To become a mother, the self-named hen, Sprout, has to sacrifice the acceptance of others and has to face life as an outcast with an adopted child who is different from herself. She courageously fights every day to keep her little duckling safe, until he flies away and leaves her alone to face her own mortality. The same end that her duckling's parents have already met while keeping him safe. This is a simple yet wonderful tale of love and friendship. Subtly raising issues of the "unconventional family" prejudice, motherhood, freedom, sacrifice and mortality. Solidly told and well translated, a story for all ages. Compared to classics like Charlotte's Web and Seagull. Also compared to Animal Farm, but I would say it is an opposite view of humanity. ( )

A delightful, easy read about freedom, survival and motherhood. The likely hood of living, so reflected in our daily lives in this story. Not forgetting the incomparably difference of breeds yet all live in harmony.

More on my blog here:
http://www.sholee.net/2016/09/mpov-hen-who-dreamed-she-could-fly.html ( )