One Hen and Then: The Story of a Small Loan and a Big Dream (Citizen Kid)

Written by Katie Smith Milway with Mary Beth Leatherdale

Illustrated by Tequitia Andrews

Kids Can Press

978-1-5253-1126-0

40 pp.

Ages 5-8

September 2024 

For those running around buying, buying, buying for the holidays, I would like you to consider how a very small gift can make a large difference. Kojo's story, first told in One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference (2008), was inspired by the experiences of Ghana's Kwabena Darko, and now in One Hen and Then, that difference is felt throughout his community.

From One Hen and Then, written by Katie Smith Milway with Mary Beth Leatherdale, illustrated by Tequitia Andrews

When his mother takes a loan for a used sewing machine, she lends Kojo the leftover coins. He buys a white hen. When the hen lays eggs, he sells them and pays back his mother. He also buys more hens. More hens means more eggs and consequently more money. 

Kojo does not waste his money. He pays for his school fees and uniform, gets new glasses, and studies hard to learn more about everything, eventually getting to college.

From One Hen and Then, written by Katie Smith Milway with Mary Beth Leatherdale, illustrated by Tequitia Andrews

His studies at college lead him to own a poultry farm, using his money to buy land and build coops. When he wants to buy hundreds of chickens, he convinces a reluctant banker to give him a loan based on his prior successes. That helps Kojo hire helpers which allows him to be more successful and expand sales. But Kojo does not just want to build a business, he wants to build his community. And so, with more workers who earn money, they too can buy their own hens and send their children to school. With each gain, Kojo finds a way to pay it forward with his workers, including offering loans to others with the condition that they too would help others out.

From One Hen and Then, written by Katie Smith Milway with Mary Beth Leatherdale, illustrated by Tequitia Andrews

Because I know if you give someone a chance to follow their dreams, bit by bit the lives of everyone in their family, community and even the country will get better.

Microfinance programs, even an informal one such as Kojo's, inspire communities to raise themselves up and support a variety of endeavours. Katie Smith Milway and Mary Beth Leatherdale have taken a true story about one boy who started with very little and worked tirelessly and cleverly with others to build on his successes and help others do the same. It is a story of entrepreneurship but also generosity and hard work. Like Kojo, the book is told with kindness and encouragement, and Katie Smith Milway and Mary Beth Leatherdale's text is complemented by the digital artwork of Tequitia Andrews of Virginia. The illustrations reflect a Ghana of street vendors and villages and varied nature scapes. There is as much life and range in the landscapes as there is the endeavours of the people.

From One Hen and Then, written by Katie Smith Milway with Mary Beth Leatherdale, illustrated by Tequitia Andrews

As you consider buying yet another new piece of tech for a gift or how much to spend on a beloved family member, think about the impact a small gift might have on one who demands little but who is willing to work to make something of that gift and, even better, to pay it forward so that others may succeed. It's always a win when we encourage microfinance programs whether here in Canada or internationally and when we show kindness, including through serial reciprocity.

The Banana-Leaf Ball

Written by Katie Smith Milway

Illustrated by Shane W. Evans

Kids Can Press

978-1-77138-331-8

32 pp.

Ages 8-12

April 2017

Most picture books are thirty-two pages in length but packing a story that includes escape from war, near starvation, separation from family, life in a refugee camp, and troubles with gangs into those few pages is an accomplishment.  The Banana-Leaf Ball’s story has all of that and even reconciliation and hope for the future.

From The Banana-Leaf Ball 

by Katie Smith Milway 

illus. by Shane W. Evans

When Deo Rukundo and his family are driven from their farm by war in Burundi, the child becomes separated from them.  Rescued by a fisherman, Deo is taken to Lukole, a refugee camp in Tanzania.  The camp which is not dissimilar from a village with a marketplace and school also has limited resources like water and food and the presence of gangs.  Deo tries to avoid Remy, a gang leader, who steals and bullies but especially after Remy  steals some of Deo’s carefully worked banana twine for the banana-leaf ball he makes and hides away.  When a man arrives with a coveted leather soccer ball and puts the teams into Shirts and Skins to encourage a game,  Deo is made a captain and Remy is on his team.  With a little teamwork and a lot of encouragement, all the boys, Deo and Remy included, are able to put away their differences and learn a bit about playing soccer, making banana-leaf balls, and becoming friends.

From The Banana-Leaf Ball 

by Katie Smith Milway 

illus. by Shane W. Evans

The Banana-Leaf Ball is Kid Can Press’ newest addition to its CitizenKid series of books and Katie Smith Milway’s fourth book in the series. Like its predecessors, it’s a story of empowerment that comes from dire circumstances but told in terms of the children who rise above.  Though most young readers will have no first-hand knowledge of being driven out of their homes by war and separated from family, as well as living in a refugee camp, many will understand the conflict with a peer that pervades daily existence.  The message that play and sport can override that conflict and provide the basis for inclusiveness is a positive one that children the world over need to know.  To further that message, The Banana-Leaf Ball includes notes about the real Deo and an amazing section called “How Kids are Learning to Trust and Include Others” which includes links to relevant organizations and descriptions of games to foster working together.

From The Banana-Leaf Ball 

by Katie Smith Milway

 illus. by Shane W. Evans

Award-winning American illustrator Shane W. Evans (Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom, We March, and The Way a Door Closes) who primarily works in pen and ink and oils with computer lends a simple power to the story.  The illustrations are weighty but energetic with the strife of escape and bustle of life in a refugee camp.  Colour and shape and even size help convey Deo’s situation, dark and shadowy when escaping and isolated, while bright and larger, coming to life when playing soccer.

Through words and art, The Banana-Leaf Ball continues to fulfil CitizenKid’s mandate of inspiring global citizenship but, by basing it on a true story, it also demonstrates the potential for good to come from bad and the importance of empathy, teamwork and resilience to further that good.


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Check out Kids Can Press' book trailer for this new book:

The Banana-Leaf Ball - A New CitizenKid Book

Uploaded to YouTube by KidsCanPressMovies on March 28, 2017.