Title: Chookalooka – The Tale of a Battery Hen
Author: Marie Hocking
Illustrator: Kazumi Kai
Publisher: XlibrisAU
ISBN: 978-1-9845-0381-7
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
It is first necessary to understand just what a “Battery Cage” is all about. It is a very small wire mesh cage, with conveyor systems for food, manure removal, and in the case of chickens, an egg gathering system. The animals spend their entire lives within a few cubic inches of space without ever being able to walk outside, be in natural sunlight; they are caged up in rather inhumane conditions.
Author Marie Hocking brings this cruel system to the awareness of children in her book titled Chookalooka – The Tale of a Battery Hen. Along with the lovely illustrations of artist Kazumi Kai, the life of a battery hen is exposed to the young readers. In the story, the hen wishes to be free, and seizes an opportunity to escape from her cage while being transported. Wandering in the streets, she luckily was picked up by a family who brings her home as a pet, naming her Chookalooka. There the hen enjoys a playful backyard, producing her one-egg-per-day for the family to eat, and also gets to have a few sips of beer from the kind grandmother. As life ends for all, Chookalooka is last illustrated as being buried in the backyard with a gravestone, a cross and a ceremonial glass of beer; as a loving memory to the family who had her as a part of the group until the end time of her life.
By exposing the cruel brutality of battery cages, used not only for hens but also for livestock, minks and other animals, children growing up in this new generation would likely follow the reversal of the battery cage popularity. As battery cages are now banned in many countries, and its popularity diminishing here in the USA, the hens like Chookalooka will ultimately be free-ranged, happier and living in God’s world with the sunshine, grass and fresh air abound.
Aside from the overshadowing of a melancholy theme, the victory of Chookalooka finally escaping into her own freedom and becoming fortunate to be a part of a loving family will leave readers with a happy feeling upon completing the book. A part adventure, a part lesson, and a part of a display of beautifully drawn art, Chookalooka – The Tale of a Battery Hen will do its magic by casting off children’s imagination to respect the freedom meant for all animals.
The story of Chookalooka will result in a future of more sensitive and caring animal caretakers, and this battery hen’s existence will not be lost without making changes in the world. Yes, the world will be a better place for many species of farmed animals once this cruel method of battery cages is abolished.
