Description: A children's full-length novel notable for its profound themes, a gripping and well-crafted structure, and uniquely vivid characters. The story tackles themes that are challenging even for adults—the true value of life, the effort required to find that value, and the belief that no living being in the world can be inherently evil. The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly is the story of Sprout, a hen who holds fast to her dream of hatching an egg and watching a chick be born, living as the true master of her own life. How comfortable it would be to simply eat what's given and lay eggs endlessly in a chicken farm. But Sprout believes that kind of life isn't truly living as a hen. So she leaves behind the well-fed safety of the chicken farm and the barnyard. A full-length novel that captures the essence of children's literature through its profound themes and moving story. This novel beautifully portrays the life—and death—of Sprout, a hen who leaves the chicken farm holding on to her dream of hatching an egg, who raises a baby duck that looks nothing like her with the deepest love, sets him free, and ultimately gives up her own life to a weasel. It is a story of realizing one's dreams, freedom, and love, even through pain and hardship. Like an acacia leaf that soaks up wind and sunlight, then falls, decays into fertilizer, and eventually helps bloom a fragrant flower, the hen who wanted to do something meaningful named herself 'Sprout.' She is the hen who left the well-fed chicken farm and the safe barnyard in search of a free life to fulfill her dream; the hen whose neck feathers have fallen out and who looks thin and worn, yet bravely fights off a weasel to protect her life and her child (a baby mallard duck); a hen who is thoughtful, yet sometimes quirky and full of humor. This novel features animals with personalities and life paths just as rich and varied as Sprout's own: the egg-laying hen confined to the chicken farm, living thoughtlessly while laying eggs she'll never hatch; the ornamental hen who lives contentedly in the barnyard with a rooster and chicks, anxiously guarding against anything that might disrupt her comfortable life; the traveling mallard duck who, despite an injured wing, never loses his true nature and lives each day to the fullest; the rooster who symbolizes authoritarianism; the flock of domestic ducks who have forgotten their true nature and settled into a life of comfort; and the gatekeeper dog, a classic opportunist. Through Sprout's unwavering resolve to hold onto her dream and live as the master of her own life, and through the diverse lives of these distinctive and memorable characters, The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly leads today's children to ask fundamental questions and reflect on who they are and how they should live. Though the themes may be somewhat heavy and challenging, the novel's gripping structure, rich symbolism, uniquely crafted characters, and fresh, emotionally resonant writing style allow readers to fully experience both the depth of the story and the true joy of literature. Author: Hwang Sun-mi Graduated from the Department of Creative Writing at Seoul Institute of the Arts. Won the Best Children's Story Award at the 1st Tamna Literary Award in 1997. Her notable story collections include My Blue Bicycle, Cherry's Yellow House, Summer Tree, Dokkaebi of Saem Village, and The Bad Kid Mark. Illustrator: Kim Hwan-young Born in 1959 in Chungcheong Province and raised in Seoul. Studied Western Painting at Hongik University, along with comics and animation. Completed the 8th class of the Hankyoreh Cultural Center's Children's Literature Writers School, and is now devoted to picture book illustration work in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province.