The speckled hen lives a quiet and comfortable life, and little is required of her. But then the war comes, the family that takes care of her flees, and she is left alone to fend for herself. Somehow, she survives. She learns how to find her own food, whatever the weather, and how to avoid those animals that want her as their dinner. She becomes tough and resourceful. When the family returns at the end of the war, they find a changed bird. The story in this beautifully produced book is told in short chapters of a few pages each. The text is fully vocalised.