One Hen:  How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference by Katie Smith Milway and Eugenie Fernandes, ill.  NY:  Kids Can Press, 2008.

ISBN 978-1-55453-028-1

 

Kojo takes his small loan and buys one hen, and over time builds up a poultry farm and his community.  This story teaches that helping in a small way can have a big impact.  Based on a true story.

Illustrations:  Rendered in acrylics

Themes:  Microfinance, Africa

Curriculum Connections:  Teaches social responsibility and economic principles.

5Q/4P

ggolden 07/03/09

 

ISBN: 978-1554530281

 

 

 

Introduces kids to the concept of microloans via the story of a Ghanian boy who uses loan money to buy a hen, which in turn becomes many hens and a large farm that funds the boy’s education.

 

 

 

Rating: 5Q/4P

 

 

Posted by LA 4/23/8

 

 

 

Milway, K. S. (2008). One hen : how one small loan made a big difference.  Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can Press, c2008.

 

Artwork:  Bright acrylic paintings

 

ISBN-13: 978-1-55453-028-1

 

Microloans have proven to be the salvation for some in poverty-laden third world countries. Inspired by a true story, this tale chronicles how one poor boy in Ghana turns a few coins into a thriving business through hard work and ingenuity.  With a few coins from a group loan, he purchases one chicken, selling the eggs until he earns enough to purchase a second chicken, in time prospering by building a thriving flock.  The real-life Kwabena Darko helps others out of poverty with his microcredit lending programs.

 

Curricular connection:  Economics/ Grade 12

Subjects: Microfinance; Economics; Africa; Hard work

 

 

 

Theme: With hard work, determination, and desire, a small investment can grow to a sustainable level.  As you have been helped, so should you help others.

 

Rating: 4Q/3P

AAS 5-4-08

 

Category: Realistic Fiction (with afterword about the real person who inspired the story)

Age Level Recommendation: Middle School

 

 

Annotation: Inspired by a true story, and a story not foreign to many living in impoverished countries, One Hen relays how a microloan afforded a boy and his family economic opportunity, which they then used to benefit their entire community. 

 

5.18.08 cjm