The Easter Egg Farm [Paperback]

Mary Jane Auch (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

An amusing story about a hen that lays eggs with different patterns on them.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite her yellow feathers, the personable Pauline is a hen of a different color--a sensitive fowl unable to "concentrate in all the confusion" of the henhouse. Her eggs, when they do appear, are of assorted vivid designs and colors, influenced by the objects she has just seen. Mrs. Pennywort, the farm's owner, senses an Eastertime gold mine and begins "taking Pauline on field trips for inspiration." (At the museum, Pauline's Mona Lisa egg is a rare treasure.) Nature takes its course, however, and soon kaleidoscopic chicks emerge from the shells. In time Pauline's progeny produce their own coveted eggs, and mother enjoys a well-earned, colorful retirement. Judging from her energetic, tongue-in-cheek text, Auch has adroitly mastered the leap from middle-grade novels to picture books. Her rib-tickling illustrations feature a gangly, Modigliani-necked Mrs. Pennywort, (over)dressed to the teeth; an eminently expressive Pauline; and of course, those spectacular ovoids. One witty scene follows another--Pauline on point watching the ballet (more inspiration), beside a rhinestone-dripping Mrs. P.; the hapless lady desperately trying to glue cracked eggs back together. Eggs-actly right. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- Mrs. Pennywort's hen, Pauline, claims she's ``just different'' because she can't lay eggs when she's pressured. When she does produce one, it resembles whatever was in sight at the moment--chicken wire, the sky, a ladybug, a butterfly, flowers, and later on, ballerinas and the Mona Lisa. Mrs. Pennywort realizes Pauline's talent could be quite lucrative, but before the designer eggs can be sold they start to hatch into chicks as multihued as the shells from which they come. The chicks grow up to lay vibrant eggs that would make any mother proud. Large, zany, cartoon-style paintings in bright colors are a perfect match for the comical story line, which is a little disjointed. But while it may not be a literary classic, the book has a kookiness that children will love, and its popularity won't be limited to the Easter season. It may also be used to inspire art projects. A similar theme for a slightly younger audience can be found in Kurt Wiese's Happy Easter (Puffin, 1989). --Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (April 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823410765
• ISBN-13: 978-0823410767
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #809,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book for children to expand their imaginations!!!, April 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Easter Egg Farm (Hardcover)

I teach school, and I love to read this book to my students every year at Easter time. It is a great book to encourage creativity. I also use it to have the students sequence different egg patterns. My students love the story as much as I do.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of our very favorite books!, April 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Easter Egg Farm (Hardcover)

It has become a tradition in my home to read this book before painting our Easter eggs. The story and illustrations are so comical, colorful and exciting that we can't wait to turn the page and see what happens next. Then we pick our favorite egg. What fun! You won't be disappointed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very cute story, with some very funny illustrations!, September 15, 2010

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Easter Egg Farm (Hardcover)

There are five hens in Mrs. Pennywort's farm, and all of them are laying eggs, except for Pauline. She just can't seem to concentrate with the other hens around. But, when she builds herself a nest apart, she finds that whatever she concentrates on is the appearance that her next egg takes. Mrs. Pennywort's thrilled by her new Easter Egg laying hen, but is she in for a surprise when Pauline's eggs begin to hatch!

This is a very cute story, with some very funny illustrations! The story was a bit advanced for my five-year-old, but she did think that it was funny, and I know that I enjoyed it very much as well.