In the village called Flickens lived some very unusual chickens. Their fabulous feathers sparkled and glittered, and everyone admired their beauty. But what first seemed like a wonder, soon became a problem. Glittery chicken’s shine was so bright, it disturbed all other animals in their sleep. The animals of Flickens came together, searching for a way to bring back the peace and calmness. But suddenly, they discovered something important: being different may sometimes bring challenges, but it can also be a positive value to the whole society.

This story gently shows that diversity should never be a burden but a gift that makes the world a brighter place.

Author: Lucija Matučec Veljavečki
Lucija Matučec Veljavečki has a master’s degree in educational rehabilitation. Through volunteering and student practice, she discovered early intervention in childhood as an area of her interest. She worked with many early intervention centres and has a lot of experience working with children. She also has her own practice which provides professional support to families and children who have developmental difficulties or who have a risk factor for developmental deviations. Beside her valuable work, she loves to write children’s stories in rhyme and has published three picture books.

Illustrator: Jelena Brezovec
Jelena Brezovec has a master’s degree in social studies. For a long time, drawing was just a hobby, until 2008 when she became a co-founder of the publishing house Evenio and decided to study digital illustration, with the focus on children’s illustration. So far, she has illustrated more than 40 picture books and many other publications. She is the winner of the Grigor Vitez “Bird” Award, a special praise from the children’s jury. She has illustrated the most popular children’s book series in Croatia – Mrljek & Prljek. Her illustrations have been part of many exhibitions throughout Croatia. She lives and works in Varaždin, Croatia.