About Hen

Two books in one! 

The folktale-inspired story of manners is an adaptation of a universal story of a self-centered, demanding autocrat used to getting her way. The bossy hen is on her way to market with a basket of eggs when she muddies her foot. In a succession of demands on the local flora, fauna and villagers, Hen learns the usefulness of courtesy and respect when none of her requests are heeded. She also learns that cooperation and a bit of humility are necessary to accomplish her request. 

The “much ado about nothing” cumulative-repetitive nursery rhyme features the Croatian original along with the English translation. Linked in a chain of archetypal enmities are objects, people, and animals, all turning a deaf ear to Hen’s commanding attitude and a blind eye to her insignificant dirty little foot. It isn’t until the last character’s notorious loyalty triggers a domino-effect chain reaction that Hen finally gets the satisfaction she seeks. 

Includes an activity page, map of Croatia, and author's note. Ages 3-10.

Illustrations

The illustrations in this book portray many Croatian regions.

The village’s houses are characteristic of Istrian stone shelters. The red roofs, even though not originally found on such buildings, symbolize the stylized terracotta roofs made of baked clay tiles, (today prevalent across Croatia). The head coverings of the male villagers are part of a traditional costume found, with some variations, both in the mountainous region of Lika and town of Šibenik in Dalmatia. Hen’s wooden house may as well be situated in the Hrvatsko Zagorje region in northwest Croatia. The snow-covered peaks and evergreen trees are landscapes seen in Gorski Kotar, while the golden wheat is a recognized metonym for Slavonia. The baskets appearing in the small illustrations are typical of both Dalmatia and Istria, just as are the olive tree and lavender. The Dalmatian dog is, well, Dalmatian. The old-fashioned tools and utensils could well belong to any Croatian village. Moreover, the three different interlace patterns on the mirror – as well as the soft coils on animal fur and feathers – are inspired by the traditional Croatian ornamental design called pleter, which dates back to the 9th century. 

Additional regional flavor is enhanced by a meal related to the Croatian way of life, a popular polenta dish prepared by boiling cornmeal in water, locally known as palenta /pah-lehn-tah/, pura /poo-rah/, or žganci /zhgahn-tsee/, depending on the region.

Author's note

The inspiration came from a cumulative folk nursery rhyme that my mother recited to me when I was a child. Versions of this tale/rhyme were popular during my childhood in Croatia (former Yugoslavia), among the speakers of the Croatian, Serbian, and Bosnian languages in Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The story continues to live in those countries through various adaptations.

Many years ago, prompted by a teacher’s initiative to present students’ various cultural backgrounds, I translated and read this rhyme about Hen to my oldest daughter’s Kindergarten class. I later recited and acted it out also to my other two children and their classmates. In order to tell the story more efficiently, I realized that I needed some colorful illustrations to make simple cardboard puppets as props for impromptu interactive performances.

My version of Hen, as I call the story as a term of endearment, hails from Croatia. That is why I wanted the illustrations to have in them the flavor of the land and the spirit of the people that I call my own. One summer, when I was visiting my husband’s relatives in a small village on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, I admired a mural that the now-illustrator Ivana had painted on a living room wall. It was then that I knew she was the right person for the job.

As my children grew, so did the story, and I was motivated to adapt the verses to a prose text. I added action, details, character portrayal and the inevitable final twist, which resulted in a well-defined story paired with Ivana's beautiful illustrations.