Our Book

Bertha the Ordinary Chicken: Learning to Shine in Your Own Special Way is a heartfelt children’s story about belonging, self-discovery, and learning to recognize the qualities that make each of us unique. Bertha may not seem especially remarkable at first, but as she grows, she begins to wonder whether being different might mean something more than she realizes.

The story was inspired by Danna Southwell’s love of children, her years of storytelling with her grandchildren, and her own experience raising chickens. Her grandchildren often asked her to create stories using characters they chose, and those imaginative moments became a way to share laughter while gently teaching lessons about kindness, confidence, and caring for others.

Through Bertha’s journey, young readers are invited to think about what makes them special, how it feels to be left out, and why we should never judge someone simply because they seem different. With warmth, humor, and a touch of adventure, the story builds toward a moment that may change the way Bertha, and everyone around her, sees what it truly means to be ordinary.