Hanne's Quest (review)

The creator of the Gossie series (Gossie, BCCB 12/02) proves here that he can tell an endearing story of poultry in words as deftly as he can in pictures. Set in Dunrea's mythical Orcadian-esque island world of Moel Eyris, this is the story of Mem Pockets, the sort of woman who keeps her ample pockets full of treats for friends of every species. Her favorite friends, however, are her speckled Scaldy hens. When Mem Pockets receives a letter telling her that if she doesn't pay her back taxes she'll lose her farm, the hens decide to do something about it. An ancient prophecy passed down from the Dragons indicates a way to lay golden eggs, and it falls to Hanne, the smallest hen, to attempt the dangerous quest that will enable her to achieve the feat. She takes off into the wide world, where she encounters many dangers but also significant help from the ancient ones of the island. Dunrea keeps up a delicate suspense in this original tale that blends archetypal quest patterns with lovable characters and settings that just fill readers up with a desire to sit a spell with the warm and cozy Mem Pockets and her brave and loyal friends. The rich brown, green, and golden hues of the gouache illustrations augment the coziness; one might wish there were more of them. Text-heavy pages may be a bit daunting for new readers, but the narrative will make a enjoyable readaloud over a few days.