A Hen in the Wardrobe Book Review

Book Title: A Hen in the Wardrobe

Author: Wendy Meddour

Publish Date: 2012
Publisher: Francis Lincoln Children's Books

Series: Cinnamon Grove #1

A Hen in the Wardrobe by Wendy Meddour

Suggested Grade: 3rd, 4th grade

Suggested Format: Independent reading, small group

Synopsis: 

Ramzi is concerned when very strange things start happening in his home at night, like someone looking for a hen in the wardrobe. He is even more concerned when he realizes that it's his dad! His dad is sleepwalking because he is homesick, so the family decides to pack up and visit his Berber village in Algeria. Ramzi experiences a whole new world, very different from his home in London. Will the move and his secret plan help cure his dad so they can go back home?

Teacher's Notes: 

A different read for students in America, this book takes you on an adventure to Algeria in the mind of a child from London. Some of the words and phrases may be difficult for students depending on their familiarity with British English. This story does have several mentions of the Muslim faith, as their travels take them to a Muslim village, where his father grew up in the Muslim faith. I keep this book aside in my classroom, where I can be sure that a student who wants to read it has the blessing of their parent(s), as this can be a hot topic. While not my favorite book, it is a solid read.

Overall: 6/10

How I Got the Book: ARC from publisher

Suggested Interests: Fiction, Cultures and Travel