First the egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Frances
Lincoln
Children's Books, 2009. ISBN 9781845079697.
(0+) Highly recommended. A 2008 Caldecott Honor Book and
rightly so, this is a beautiful and fascinating picture book that looks
at how
things evolve. First comes a white cut-out of an egg and on page turn,
the
reader sees the egg change into a chicken. Then there is a tiny green
cut-out
of a tadpole which turns into a frog.Other
wonders of nature follow, including a seed growing into a flower and a
caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Then in an interesting twist, a
word
turns into the story that has been read so far.
The illustrations are lush and colourful. Bold, bright
brushstrokes show the beauty of the transformations. The simple text
will lend
itself to being read aloud to the very young and beginning readers
would have a
delightful book to practise simple words.
Certain to become a classic, this is one book that is sure
to be cherished by its readers.
Pat Pledger