The Hen Who Sailed Around the World by Guirec Soudee is the true story of Soudee’s 3,400-mile sea voyage with his pet hen, Monique.
That pretty much sums up the story.
There are lots of wonderful photographs of Soudee with Monique. And lots of wonderful photographs of Monique by herself. Not to mention lots of wonderful photographs of some of the friends they meet along the way. And we cannot forget the lots and lots of photographs of ice. Lots and lots of ice.
The best description of Monique comes from a publisher description: “she surfs, she skateboards, and she just crossed the world on a tiny boat with her human companion” (who just happened to help steer the boat). They took three years to accomplish their journey because they just did what came naturally, chilled (see what I did? Ice? Chill?). As Soudee says he just enjoyed his trip, meeting people, taking time to stop and enjoy the journey. And what a journey it was.
There are funny parts and scary parts and just the everyday parts (what is on the menu? Eggs of course). Yet, nothing is inappropriate. Even as Soudee describes how they are stuck in the ice for four months, you know that since he is telling the story you know that he (and more importantly Monique; as he is just the human and not the star of our tale) will be okay. This adventure is one for all ages.
I would like to see a chapter book expanding on the story and will keep a weathered eye out for one!
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