Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes.
One Hen is the latest title from the creators of If the World Were a Village, Tree of Life and One Well. It tells the story of Kojo, a young Ghanaian boy who uses a micro loan to buy a chicken, so he can sell the eggs to make money. Through hard work, Kojo soon earns enough to go back to school. He grows up to own his own farm, employing many people in his village and contributing to Ghana's development. The story illustrates how a small loan can have a huge impact on many people's lives if used in the right way. Striking artwork and House that Jack Built-style captions lead the reader through Kojo's progress. At the end of the book, the story of the real-life Kojo is told.
The book has inspired a non-profit organisation One Hen Inc which teaches children about global responsibility and philanthropy at the same time as assisting micro entrepreneurs in Africa. The website onehen.opportunity.org provides teachers with activities for ages 6-9 and 10-12 on topics including maths, social studies, fundraising and microfinance. Children can visit the website and play online games that trigger real life loans and donations. The site also tells the real stories of people who have been helped by these loans.
Ages: 8-12
