FICTION

The Overeager Egg

by Milja Praagman (text) & illus. by Milja Praagman
Boxer. Jan. 2024. 32p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781914912740.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2–In this Dutch import, a little egg rolls out of the nest and hatches halfway from its shell, revealing only a pair of webbed feet and curious eyes. Echoing P. D. Eastman’s classic Are You My Mother?, the baby bird encounters a number of different creatures, including a caterpillar, a horse, and a hen, asking each “Are you my mommy?” In a noticeable departure from the classic, when a hungry magpie threatens the egg, it is the father swan who rescues the young one, returning the escapee to their nest and reassuring that “Daddies can do everything,” and that the egg will become “a beautiful little swan.” Like the tone of the story, Praagman’s spare graphic illustrations set against solid colored backgrounds mix vintage feel with modern sensibility.
VERDICT A quiet and cozy tale with a subtle paradigm shift.
Reviewed by Yelena Voysey , Jan 01, 2024

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