Hanaor, Ziggy. Egg Incident, The. Daisy Wynter, Illus. Cicada, 04/2024. [72]pp. Graphic. Trade $19.99. 978-1-80066-043-4. GRADES 1–4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
In this clever graphic novel inspired by the nursery rhyme “Humpty Dumpty,” Humpty’s nephew Humphrey (an egg) meets a little human girl and she helps him learn to try new things like crossing the street, playing catch, and even climbing over a wall after they are locked in the park. The message that some caution is smart, but too much can be overly limiting is clear but not didactic. The format features both full-page artwork and paneled artwork, done as cartoon sketches with thin ink outlines and watercolors on white backgrounds, with the text in dialogue balloons. The city depicted shows both humans and eggs dressed in clothing, with Humphrey’s mom shown as a brown egg, and his father as a light-shelled egg. Sure to be popular, appealing to a wide age range. First published in the UK in 2023.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool