The Donkey Egg

K-Gr 2–In this follow-up to the Caldecott Honor book Tops & Bottoms, Bear is busy getting tricked again. Fox, knowing that Bear needs help around his farm, offers to sell him a green donkey egg. Bear agrees and sets about keeping the large green orb warm. Time passes and Bear finally realizes his egg is actually a watermelon, but then uses the seeds to help his farm and finally buy his own donkey. Much like its predecessor, Donkey Egg is a hilarious story told in rhyme and a loving tribute to the trickster tale. Sidebars offer interesting "Did You Know?" facts about the different increments of time used in the book, such as the fact that the average person blinks their eye over 1,000 times in an hour. These information bits may be distracting for some readers, but could also make this an interesting addition for STEAM-powered storytimes. Though the storytelling is strong enough to stand on its own, the artwork puts it over the top. Stevens's folksy, traditional style not only adds to the humor at the right moments, but also ensures that the piece will be as timeless as Tops & Bottoms.