Who Hid the Easter Eggs?

PreS-Gr 2—Harry the squirrel has watched a grandmother hide Easter eggs each spring, and this beautiful day is no exception. As soon as the eggs are hidden, though, Harry sees a jackdaw stealing them. Jack explains that he just wants eggs in his own nest. Thus Vainio pulls together two of the rituals of spring—Easter egg hunts and welcoming new babies. Eventually Harry and Jack re-hide the eggs for the children to find and then help them find them. The jackdaw finds a mate and eventually his own eggs are laid in his nest. This book evokes spring through all of readers' senses. Each spread has about a paragraph of text, making it a strong read-aloud choice. The pastel watercolors bleed into the background, while the action in the foreground remains sharp and clean. Vainio welcomes spring softly and cheerfully in this story.—Susan E. Murray, formerly at Glendale Public Library, AZ