Children’s Book Review: The Odd Egg
July 20, 2009 by Karlynn Johnston
Filed under Book Nook
I initially picked up this book because the cover was so visually appealing, a picture of Duck hugging his beautiful green spotted egg. When I flipped through it I quickly realized that the cut out pages would appeal to the kids immensely, each is a little flap that you turn over to see who’s egg has hatched next, and what came out of said egg. Sure enough, my two can’t get enough of this book, turning over each flap, giggling each time they do, even though an adult would think by the thirtieth time of reading, the joke was old. My son delights in bellowing out the big ending when Duck’s egg finally hatches and something emerges. The story is absolutely adorable, the pictures beautiful and touching, my favorite being where Duck is knitting a scarf for the baby, leaning against this humongous spotted egg, waiting for his baby to hatch.
This book hits all the key notes; beautiful illustrations, an engaging, delightful story and cut out pages that add a tactile level and fun to the reading experience.
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Page Count: 32 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
What to expect: Poor duck doesn’t have an egg, so he finds one of his own. Kids can tell from the start that the egg is far too large for Duck, and they will have a fun time guessing what hatches at the end.
Publisher’s synopsis: Each of the birds has an egg…except for Duck. So when Duck finds a beautiful egg of his own he’s delighted — even though the other birds make fun of it. But everyone’s in for a BIG surprise when his egg finally hatches!
The witty text and playful illustrations appear on cleverly designed cut pages that allow the visual jokes to unfold.
About the Author: Emily Gravett is the author and illustrator of Spells, The Odd Egg, Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears (winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal), Monkey and Me and Meerkat Mail. Her first book, Wolves, was the winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal and the Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Award for Illustration. Her second book, Orange Pear Apple Bear, a Quills Award finalist and on the shortlist for the Kate Greenaway Medal, was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year and a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year. Emily lives in Brighton, England, with her partner, their daughter, and the family dog.
Our Rating: 5 out of 5
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