Henny is Stuck by Aileen Crossley

Poor little Henny is stuck. Unlike her fluffy friends, she’s still mostly in her shell. Her wee wings and tiny hands are free but the rest of her is absolutely, definitely, no-kidding-on STUCK!

Her friends try to help. Bunny thumps. Woodpecker pecks. Squirrel nibbles. But none of them can help. Poor Henny is very sad. She feels different to all the other chicks. She’s too slow and too clumsy.

But when danger comes, Henny shows how brave and how clever she is. Now Henny is happy. Even though she’s different, she is able to save her friends. And when she takes a huge, happy breath, her shell cracks and suddenly Henny is NOT STUCK!

Henny is still different. But now she knows that it doesn’t matter. Being herself is the best thing of all.

Aileen Crossley has produced a warm and hopeful story, full of positive messages displayed in words and pictures. The colours and lines are welcoming, creating a feeling of friendship and inclusion, an atmosphere of safety. Henny’s friends don’t care that she is different but Henny still minds, until she sees that sometimes being different is important. So the message is that YOU have to accept yourself as well as it being important that others accept you.