Geared to children ages 4 to 7, the story’s entertaining prose and captivating illustrations will engage young readers. Together, they discover all the things a chicken can do – when given a chance. After several narrow escapes from danger, she is rescued by Mateo, an 11-year-old boy.

Suddenly, a ferocious tornado sweeps her cage away, thrusting Gwen into a strange and colorful new world. Sharing a tiny cage with several other hens, she can only dream of spreading her wings to fly. Gwen’s story begins in the monochromatic world of an egg production warehouse.

Authored by Leslie Crawford and illustrated by Sonja Stangl, the book quietly makes a case for animal rights while teaching children about one particular animal – the chicken. Gwen the Rescue Hen: A Book Reviewīased on a true story (as true as a chicken story can be), Gwen the Rescue Hen is the account of a factory farm hen who escapes from confinement to discover the world. Three other great reasons – to promote humane food production, to educate children about animals, and to have wonderful family pets – are explored in a delightful new children’s book, Gwen the Rescue Hen.

I’ve always said there are more reasons to raise backyard chickens than just the fresh eggs – as good as that reason may be. For more information, please see the affiliate disclosure at the bottom of this page. Teach Heart, which designs Humane Education curriculums for teachers, has named Gwen to its recommended book list.This post may contain affiliate links. Ages: 4 to 7 Recognition 2020 Winner of the Northern Lights Book Award Honoring 'Children's Literature of Exceptional Merit' Gwen is displayed in the California governor's mansion in Sacramento, CA, and part of the State Library's permanent collection. The book includes a bonus section called More About Chickens, where curious readers can learn that chickens have extraordinary eyesight, a complex language of 24 sounds, and are descended from dinosaurs, among other fun facts about chickens. Together they discover how extraordinary an ordinary chicken really is. Using her wits and chicken superpowers, Gwen dodges danger at every turn until she finds safety and friendship with a boy named Mateo. A fateful tornado turns her world upside-down and sideways, landing her in a strange new place that's nothing like the hen house. Gwen has spent her whole life in a big egg-laying hen house, so she knows very little about what chickens can do (besides lay eggs, of course). Winner of a prestigious Northern Lights Book Award, Gwen the Rescue Hen is the heart-warming story about a sharp-witted chicken that inspires compassion for animals.

Gwen the Rescue Hen by Leslie Crawford