Inspired by true events, One Hen tells the story of Kojo, a boy from Ghana who turns a small loan into a thriving farm and a livelihood for many. After his father died, Kojo had to quit school to help his mother collect firewood to sell at the market. When his mother receives a loan from some village families, she gives a little money to her son. With this tiny loan, Kojo buys a hen. A year later, Kojo has built up a flock of 25 hens. With his earnings Kojo is able to return to school. Soon Kojo's farm grows to become the largest in the region. Kojo's story is inspired by the life of Kwabena Darko, who as a boy started a tiny poultry farm just like Kojo's, which later grew to be the largest in Ghana, and one of the largest in west Africa. Kwabena also started a trust that gives out small loans to people who cannot get a loan from a bank. One Hen shows what happens when a little help makes a big difference. This help comes in the form of a microloan, a lending system for people in developing countries who have no collateral and no access to conventional banking. Microloans have begun to receive more media attention in recent years. In 2006 Muhammad Yunus, a Bangledeshi economist who pioneered microloan banking, won the Nobel Peace Prize.The final pages of One Hen explain the microloan system and include a list of relevant organizations for children to explore.
Browse the best books for every age and adventure including popular series, classics, and editors' picks in our Kids Summer Reading Store. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 2–5—After his father dies, Kojo quits school to help his mother collect firewood to sell, but there is little money or food. However, his small Ashanti village has elected to try microlending, a system where the village loans money to one family to buy something that will hopefully improve their lives; once it is paid back, another family borrows it, etc. When it is the boy's mother's turn, Kojo uses a few of the coins to buy a hen. The story then follows him as he grows and slowly but steadily builds the proceeds from that one hen into the largest poultry farm in West Africa. Throughout, the author shows how his success impacts the lives of everyone it touches, from the people whom Kojo is able to employ to the taxes he pays that will build roads and medical facilities. The story is based on the experiences of an actual Ashanti poultry farmer and could open diverse avenues of discussion, including how a community's mutual support and teamwork operate for the good of all. Fernandes's large acrylic paintings capture the warmth of the climate and include numerous details, such as splashes of kente cloth, that authenticate the setting. There are also many illustrations that spark the imagination, such as the one of a tree with Kojo's first hen at its roots, growing more hens as the tree grows, with eggs blossoming from the branches. This distinguished book will enhance many curriculum areas. Tololwa M. Mollel's My Rows and Piles of Coins (Clarion, 1999) is a good companion piece.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Families in a Ghanan village pool their small savings into a community bank that makes loans available to members. When Kojo’s mother borrows money, he asks her for a few coins to buy a hen. The hen produces eggs for the family as well as a few for him to sell at the market, and Kojo uses that money to grow his business into a thriving enterprise. As a successful adult entrepreneur, Kojo now loans money to other aspiring businesspeople. Kojo’s inspiring, upbeat microfinance story makes the economic concept easy to grasp and admire. Sunny acrylic illustrations incorporate African animals and scenery into impressionistic full-page art that reflects the optimistic tone of the story. Back matter includes a photograph and short biography of a “real Kojo,” information on microcredit organizations, and a glossary. Grades 2-5. --Linda Perkins
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
Customer Reviews
“ The book is well-written and done with careful thought--pages can be skimmed with really young kids, while older kids can read the full text. ”
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Book
This little children's book shows how big the world is. One Hen simplistically shares a personal story of a little boy who buys a hen and how it impacted his life, family, entire village, and country. Beyond just micro-finance, One Hen communicates global poverty, community development, family values, charity and justice issues. helpful to begin educating American children in a "me, me" culture about not just giving to those who are poor and disenfranchised but how to give in such a way that has sustainable, holistic effects on an individual and community.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is a great way for families to teach their children about the value of giving and the effect a small kindness or gift may have on many lives. The illustrations are an added plus. It is a good and easy introduction into microfinance and how one person can help make the world a better place
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Mark Wan
This book is terrific. We can so easily fall into thinking that our world is limited to the things we see everyday, and the book is a great journey through what life is like in so many parts of the world today.
I recommend reading this with your kids, your students (if you have any), and even just for your own personal enjoyment.
Also, the book has sparked a great website as well, which helps to educate young and old on the merits of microloans -- [...]
I recommend reading this with your kids, your students (if you have any), and even just for your own personal enjoyment.
Also, the book has sparked a great website as well, which helps to educate young and old on the merits of microloans -- [...]
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By M. Smith
One Hen is not only a picture book to be read to non readers in one sentence per page, but a beginning reader's book. It is also written on the right hand side at a grade six and up level. The challenge to become involved actively in microfinancing on the final pages, has adults setting up the website in schools, libraries and book stores, enabling all to become involved in the win-win world of microfinancing. No wonder it has won business awards as well as literature kudos.
23 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By E. Young
Amazon Verified Purchase
Gosh, after the rave reviews here, I was so disappointed in this book. For 4 to 8 year olds? You've got to be kidding. This book was based on what should have been a delightful and inspiring story, but the author went on and on and on and on in the style of somebody writing a report for the IMF instead of a children's story. This author does not know how to tell a story, how to create images, how to carry on a plot. It became more boring with each page. And it is a real pity because what a beautiful idea. I wish the publisher had given this writer more help so that his story could have been told properly. The stars I gave are all for the artist, who did such a wonderful job with the paintings.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Bubbles
This book is terrific. It has an inspiring message that can be used to talk with kids, even young ones. The book is well-written and done with careful thought--pages can be skimmed with really young kids, while older kids can read the full text. The art is magical. I recommend this book highly.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Katie Smith Milway, One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference (Kids Can Press, 2008)
Cute book about microlending, one of today's most exciting trends, geared toward the preschool set. Milway gets extra credit, though, for including a section geared towards slightly older readers (and adults) with a capsule biography of the chap upon whom she based the main character in One Hen that's just as interesting as the book itself. She also includes a quick nonfiction overview of microlending and a quick guide for further investigation, which is fantastic (and points out that this process also exists in America, which may surprise some readers, both children and adults). A must for conservative parents, but I do think it's got a universal appeal. ****
Cute book about microlending, one of today's most exciting trends, geared toward the preschool set. Milway gets extra credit, though, for including a section geared towards slightly older readers (and adults) with a capsule biography of the chap upon whom she based the main character in One Hen that's just as interesting as the book itself. She also includes a quick nonfiction overview of microlending and a quick guide for further investigation, which is fantastic (and points out that this process also exists in America, which may surprise some readers, both children and adults). A must for conservative parents, but I do think it's got a universal appeal. ****
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
This is the perfect gift to give children. Tells an inspirational story of a young boy in Africa who starts his own business and then helps others. Any child who has run a lemonade stand will be inspired.
Also has an interactive website [...] where kids can play games and help the poor each time they win. Hours of fun and good deeds at the same time.
Also has an interactive website [...] where kids can play games and help the poor each time they win. Hours of fun and good deeds at the same time.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
My child really enjoyed it.
This is a nice story. The art work is bright and the characters are portrayed with respect for their culture and creativity. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Terrell Welch
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring story with valuable lessons to be learnt and shared!
Gorgeous and colourful illustration written in simple and easy to understand English.
This is an inspiring story based on a true character that if you start small and... Read more
This is an inspiring story based on a true character that if you start small and... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Joanne Peh
5.0 out of 5 stars
One hen made a big difference
Do you think a little loan and a little brown hen can change the future of a whole country? This tale is based on a true story about a small boy (called Kojo) who lived in a poor... Read more
Published on May 28, 2010 by Storace Tatiana Maria
5.0 out of 5 stars
Capitalism!
This book is a great lesson in capitalism. Successful business provides jobs and money for the community, then others can use that money to create more businesses and more support... Read more
Published on May 14, 2010 by KarenMarie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children
A child named Kojo lived with his mother in a tiny village in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The villagers came up with the idea of pooling their savings and making small loans to... Read more
Published on March 15, 2010 by Yana V. Rodgers
5.0 out of 5 stars
One Hen - two steps above!
This is a wonderful children's story with a very important message. The story is captivating, the illustrations are colorful and engaging, the size of the book is large enough for... Read more
Published on February 17, 2010 by Bristish Columbia, Canada
5.0 out of 5 stars
Supurb Content
One Hen is beautifully writen and illustrated. Every page has a subtle lesson on sharing, supporting, growing, and economic development. Read more
Published on December 14, 2009 by E. Okall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful book on giving
We stumbled upon this wonderful book. It is bright and colorful and full of animals, so my two year old likes it. The content, however, is appealing to my eight year old. Read more
Published on November 8, 2009 by Interested Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great teaching opportunity
I read this book to my three grandsons, ages 9 and 5. They sat and listened. And a week later they remembered the primary message of the book ... Read more
Published on July 1, 2009 by T. Pryor
5.0 out of 5 stars
one hen mom moved to action
Not only has my eight year old asked to read this book endlessly, but he has also grasped the pretty complex economic theory behind it. Read more
Published on April 27, 2009 by urban mom
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
