Henkes, Kevin. Egg. Kevin Henkes, Illus. Picture Book. Greenwillow, 01/2017. [32]pp. $17.99. 978-0-06-240872-3. OUTSTANDING. GRADES TOD-1.
Using a minimal text, Henkes creates a charming story filled with empathy, friendship, and humor. It begins with a simple premise: four eggs, each painted in a different pastel shade, are framed in four brown-outlined rectangles. The text labels each of them as “egg.” In the following layouts, three of the four eggs develop a small crack and then hatch. Although at first the birds fly away, they return to “peck-peck-peck” at the remaining egg and an initial surprise turns into an unlikely friendship. The pastel watercolor palette complements the gentleness of the tale; the brown borders and cream-colored paper anchor it and unify the design of the book. The animals, although depicted with minimal detail, nevertheless brim with expression.
Helen Bloch, Oakland Public Library