The winner of the 1954 Newbery Award for THE WHEEL ON THE SCHOOL has again written a book which will be long remembered by its readers.

The day after the big ice storm was remarkable in many ways. It was then that the little red hen became different from the other chickens in the hen house. And it was also the first day that the big black dog came to the farm in search of a home.

The dog was humble and lonesome. The hen was cocky and secure. A strange and wonderful friendship grew between them. Although the title hen had no way of showing affection, the dog demanded nothing more than to serve her. The rooster and the other chickens acknowledged the relationship almost immediately. But it took the man who owned the farm longer to realize what the dog had known all along--that his place was with the man and the little hen.

Maurice Sendak's expressive pictures bring further warmth and richness to this dramatic story.

From the dust jacket