Customer Reviews

The Happy Egg

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A year ago I went looking for this book, which turned out to be long out of print. In fact, the very knowledgeable bookstore staff I spoke to doubted its very existence! The Carrot Seed is a beloved classic, but its close sibling The Happy Egg had been strangely forgotten. I'm glad to see it back.

The two books are by the same husband-and-wife team, and share a natural kinship in their gentle rhythms, simple illustrations and surprisingly stirring, life-affirming conclusions. The Happy Egg is a book I can gladly read over and over, and over, to my toddler.

I read several reviews of this book and also saw that it was featured in a parenting magazine as a great book for toddlers. I insisted on getting it for my 2 1/2 year old son for Easter, and I searched everywhere for it. Waste. Of. Time.

This book is so dull, and my son is not captivated by it at all. Half of the pages read "And he sat." "And he sat." "And he sat." Honestly, I could make up a story with so few words, drag it out longer, skip the illustrations, and save my money. The story is not a good one, and the illustrations did little to inspire my toddler. I will not be recommending this to anyone.

This is a strange little book. On one hand, the story's so simple that it's almost stupid, on the other hand it's charming and that simple-stupidness has always struck me as really, really silly and funny. I suppose it matters more what kids think of it, though. Not so much what I think of it. My kids both think it's wonderful. So, 5 stars for me.

When I was a young child, I owned this book. I won't say it was my all-time favorite, but I did like it. Today, it holds a special place in my heart, because I learned to read with this book.

Children don't always need the busiest, most colorful and rhyming book out there. Its simplicity is what made me think that I could master it. My parents had read it to me so much that I quickly learned it by heart. And then I would play with it and pretend I could read it on my own. And finally, one day, as I was play-reading it, it suddenly all came together for me. The words just "clicked" in my mind, like learning to ride a bicycle. I understood how to read!

Today, I am a mother to a 2 year old voracious 'play-reader' and I can't wait to get this book for my child. Perhaps someday the words will "click" for her too!

Order took two weeks (14 business days exactly) to receive and arrived damaged. Now I need to return the damaged book that arrived after I needed to give it as a gift and wait for a credit. Never heard back from vendor if they were going to try to find a replacement. Less than thrilled with this vendor / shopping experience.