Peep and Egg: I'm Not Hatching

PreS-K—Peep, an adorable baby chick, can barely wait for Egg to hatch. Egg, however, is hesitant. In fact, Egg is so fearful that he has decided not to hatch at all. In an attempt to lure her anxious friend out of his shell, Peep begins describing all the things they can do together. When she tells Egg they can watch the sunrise from the roof of the henhouse, Egg informs her that the roof is too high. When she suggests splashing in puddles, Egg drolly replies, "Too wet." Each entreaty is illustrated with an exuberant Peep wreathed in smiles and a very dour Egg looking put upon. The tide turns, however, when Peep leaves without reading Egg a story. He is so desirous of one that he hatches, and the book concludes with the two of them on the roof of the henhouse happily reading, albeit with Egg sporting a helmet in case of a fall! Charmingly illustrated by Wan with bold strokes and spot-on facial expressions, this picture book is delightful. Gehl has created an appealing duo with the enthusiastic Peep and the lovably neurotic Egg. The constant refrain of "I'm not hatching" will be a winner at storytime.