Hetty and Harriet

by Graham Oakley

A young foolish hen and her slightly older, wiser friend look for the perfect home

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Adventure

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Graham Oakley is a children's book author and illustrator, most active during the 1960s to 1980s. He is best known for the Church Mice series and also illustrated many book covers in the 60s.

For the current UK author of children's books at Top That! press see Graham Oakley.

Reviews

[Rosamund Hodge]

Absolutely positively the best book ever written about chicken psychology.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunningly detailed illustrations tell a witty story of two hens who leave their old-fashioned country home in search for a place with more excitement--and after more mishaps than they'd bargained for, come to the gradual conclusion that "there's no place like home."

While those who stick up chickens may not appreciate the rather flighty characterization of Hetty and Harriet, this remains a groundbreaking picture book for its memorable depiction of a factory egg farm, made all the more impressive by the book's publication date. When Hetty and Harriet wind up in this place, they realize quickly that this is no place a chicken wants to be, and hightail it out of there none too soon.

This is a sweet story that makes a type of animal who desperately needs friends and advocates relatable and sympathetic.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This delightful story of two hens drew me in and had me laughing by the final page. The illustrations brim with details, and social commentary that adult readers will pick up on (and probably sharp children, too). Oakley is a British author my friends Christine and Jessica introduced me to about two years ago.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really difficult to rate this one - let's say 3.5 stars. Lots of lovely pictures as you would expect with Oakley, but I don't particularly like the story. Two hens, one grumpy and one empty-headed, don't like being constantly pecked by the older hens on their farm, so set off to seek a better home, only everywhere they go sucks worse than the last (except randomly one place that seemed all right but never mind moving on). Neither of the two hens have any personality growth during the story, which is disappointing because neither of them is a likeable lead. We are supposed to roll our eyes at Harriet just because she doesn't want to be bullied for her entire life. But why should she have to put up with that? And the big dark thing looming over the entire story is that THEY LIVE ON A FARM. We all know that farmers kill chickens when they are still relatively young because they stop producing eggs. So absolutely I want Harriet and Hetty to escape. But everywhere they go people either want to bully them or more likely eat them, so they never find somewhere nice where their lives aren't at risk. At one point we see Harriet's daydream of being cared for, again something we are supposed to laugh at, but she DOES deserve that! All animals deserve that. If this book had been written today, it would probably have them go live on an animal sanctuary. Basically this could have been better if the chickens had some character growth and the matter of are their lives at risk was properly addressed. I don't think that is too much to ask from a picture book, especially from a story master like Oakley.

[Deborah Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a stunning and witty book. The illustrations were awesome. A very sweet story of two hens; Hetty the youngest of all the chickens and Harriet the next to the youngest. Both Hetty and Harriet were constantly pecked by all the other chickens. Hetty really didn't mind because she thought she wouldn't always be the youngest. But Harriet did mind and every day she told Hetty, "Just over there is a wonderful place where everything's perfect. One day I'll run away and live there, and even though you're young and silly I'll take you with me." Eventually Harriet convinces Hetty to leave with her but will the find that there is really "no place like home" or will they find that perfect place? I recommend you give this quick story a ready to find out.

I give this book 4.5* but round down to 4.

[Inigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graham Oakley in his apocalyptic post industrial streak, telling the story of two small farm layer hens who want bigger and better things and run off to the big city and end up regretting it.

[C. M. Rule · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you can only read one children’s book in your whole life, THIS IS THE ONE TO CHOOSE!