The Odd Egg (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K—This is the story of a drake who is feeling left out. "All the birds had laid an egg. All except for Duck." When he finds a huge, green-spotted egg, he loves it right away. Sitting high atop it—so high that he barely fits into the picture—he is subjected to the taunts of the egg layers: "Not pretty." "It'll never hatch!" "Ha ha!" Gravett uses narrow pages that gradually increase in size to reveal all of the other eggs hatching, from the smallest chick to the tallest flamingo. While the moms cuddle their new hatchlings, Duck waits—and waits. Leaning against the large egg, he knits up a storm until "Creak Crack, SNAP": out pops an enormous alligator, scaring all of the scoffing birds right off the page. The final, priceless illustration shows an adoring alligator marching—in four knitted slippers and a muffler—behind Duck, murmuring, "Mama." There are many aspects of the story that make it worth adding to the what-have-I-hatched collection. First, it's so simple that toddlers can enjoy it. Second, the layout is unique and well suited to the plot. Third, the illustrations are a joy to behold: funny, personable, and oh-so-eye-catching. The ecru background on every page is a nice touch, lending the book a little extra cachet. Kids will love cracking the pages of this exceptional story.—Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

All the birds have laid an egg except Duck. Fortunately, he finds one and it’s beautiful, but the birds laugh at his enormous, green-speckled egg. Their eggs hatch; Duck’s doesn’t. He waits and waits until—SNAP!—a huge alligator breaks out of the shell. Gravett is on a roll (well, actually, an egg roll) with this charming visual joke. Cleverly designed with graduated cut pages as each egg—“Creak Crack”—opens, the spacious composition includes humorous details and a palette of green daubs on the white egg that harmoniously matches Duck’s green neck. The handsome illustrations on classy cream-colored paper, the inviting cover, and the scream-inducing surprise ending make this an “egg-cellent” book for sharing and a “just ducky” natural for storytime. Preschool-Grade 2. --Julie Cummins --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: MacMillan UK (March 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0230531350
• ISBN-13: 978-0230531352
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #999 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars VIVE LA DIFFERENCE !, February 17, 2009

By	Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This review is from: The Odd Egg (Hardcover)

Author/illustrator Emily Gravett has received numerous accolades for her work including the Kate Greenaway Medal and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award for Illustration. She deserves recognition again for The Odd Egg, a smile provoking, cleverly designed story about a duck who very much wanted to lay an egg.

It was that time of year - all the other birds save for Duck had produced an egg. Luckily Duck found one.. For an egg it was quite unusual; the other birds thought it very odd and said it would never hatch. Nonetheless, Duck thought it the most beautiful egg he had ever seen.

Although it took some doing he sat on the egg and even proceeded to do some knitting for the blessed event. The other birds' eggs eventually cracked, the owl's and the chicken's but still nothing for Duck. At last Duck's egg began to creak then crack until out popped a surprise.

Ingeniously cut pages allow youngsters to follow the egg's progress to a humorous finish that will undoubtedly result in laughter as well as questions.

Enjoy!

- Gail Cooke

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gravett strikes again!, March 30, 2009

By	Robert P. Beveridge "xterminal" (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Emily Gravett, The Odd Egg (Simon and Schuster, 2008)

Gravett is certainly on form these days; first Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears and now Thee Odd Egg, which starts out looking as if it's going to be one of Gravett's minor books, but gets inventive fast, and the ending is right up there with Wolves. If you're not familiar with Emily Gravett yet, this is a great way to start. ****

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love and Family Comes in All Sorts of Shapes and Sizes...Or In This Case, Eggs, February 10, 2009

By	Sacramento Book Review "SacramentoBookReview.com" (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Odd Egg (Hardcover)

Each of the birds has an egg, except for Duck. He finds one of his very own. Even though the other birds make fun of it, he couldn't be more excited. Everyone, including Duck, is surprised to see what's inside that egg. I won't spoil the end of the story so you'll have to pick up this one to find out. The drawings are whimsical and classic and accompany interactive cut pages that are perfect for children. It teaches that no matter what you look like the real thing that makes a family is love.

Reviewed by Jennifer LeBrun