Aston, D. H., & Long, S. (2006). An egg is quiet. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.
36 Pages
Ages 9-12
Plot:
This informational book discusses the variety of egg characteristics and attributes, such as size, color, texture and shape. In doing so it explores the various adaptations of eggs for their particular species, such as soft fish eggs and hard ostrich eggs. It also discusses the components that make up on egg and the various gestational periods they can have. In doing so, the book gives the egg itself just as much life as the living being that emerges from it.
My Impressions:
What I enjoyed most about this book was the beautiful artwork. The illustrations capture the diversity of both the eggs themselves and the animals that care for them. Being an informative book by nature, it is surprisingly unwordy, relying on the images to convey much of the meaning and details. Also, the repeated pattern of "An Egg is... (insert characteristic) is a nice touch as it is intended for young readers. This phrase besides structure and organization to the book's contents. I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it for young students doing some of their first investigative research.
Reviews:
From Publishers Weekly
"Like the subject matter it describes, this book packages with understated elegance the substantive matter found within it. "An egg is quiet. It sits there, under its mother's feathers… on top of its father's feet… buried beneath the sand," Aston (When You Were Born) begins, as spot illustrations zero in on a hummingbird, emperor penguin and sea turtle, respectively. The narrative then launches into a kind of survey about the characteristics of eggs, which follows a simple format. In most spreads, different adjectives (colorful, shapely, textured, etc.) complete the sentence, "An egg is.…" This repetitive rhythm contrasts with the visual variety of the illustrations. Long's (Sylvia Long's Mother Goose) skilled use of contrast and compositional balance prevent monotony. For example, a border that resembles a color test pattern runs down the outer edges of a spread of nearly 40 carefully placed "colorful" examples, set against a white background, which dazzle the eye. The main text appears in large, flowery cursive, while a smaller printed typeface serves as labels and brief factual captions. "An egg is clever," in fancy script, for instance, sits alongside examples of camouflage: "An egg might be speckled to resemble the rocks around it." The letters' dramatic curlicues mimic curvy grasses and vines dappled with tiny insect eggs. Long introduces breathtaking color into the final spreads, as a concluding scene "hatches from" this peacefulness, reminding readers of an egg's purpose. This attractive volume pleases on both an aesthetic and intellectual level. Ages 5-10. "
An Egg Is Quiet. (2006). Publishers Weekly, 253(10), 74-101.
From School Library Journal
K-Gr 2 -- An exceptionally handsome book on eggs, from the delicate ova of the green lacewing to the rosy roe of the Atlantic salmon to the mammoth bulk of an ostrich egg. Aston's simple, readable text celebrates their marvelous diversity, commenting on size, shape, coloration, and where they might be found. The author occasionally attributes sensibilities to eggs ("An egg is clever," for example). Still, her quiet descriptions of egg engineering and embryo development (no mention of mating) are on the mark, and are beautifully supported by Long's splendid watercolor depictions of a wide variety of eggs. (One teeny carp--Steller's jays are not spelled with an "ar," though they are stellar performers when wheedling for your lunch at a campsite!) A beautiful guide to the unexpected panoply of "the egg."
Manning, P. (2006). An Egg Is Quiet. School Library Journal, 52(6), 104.
Library Suggestions:
I think this book would be great as part of a display book for informative books. It's illustrations are captivating, so putting it in a highly visible spot will draw readers to it as its subject matter is less likely to be sought on its own.
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