by John Casey
First published 2014
Dustin arrives at Grandpa John and Nana Michele's Hereford Farm as one of four young chicks. The grandparents planned to raise hens for fresh eggs to share with loved ones. Their simple plan goes awry when three of the four birds turn out to be roosters instead of hens. Dustin and the other roosters create unexpected challenges as they grow up together with just one hen. The farm becomes a place of daily struggles as Grandpa John and Nana Michele try to manage three male birds and one female. The situation grows more difficult each day until the grandparents face their hardest choice. They must decide whether to trade two roosters for hens to restore balance to their small flock. This story captures the surprises and tough decisions that come with raising chickens on a family farm.
Genres: animals, family-life, agriculture, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unexpected-challenges
Setting: Hereford Farm
Period: 21st-century
30 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform