An Egg Is Quiet



Last updated Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Author: Dianna Hutts Aston
Illustrator: Sylvia Long
Date of Publication: 2006
ISBN: 0811844285
Grade Level: 1st    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Apr. 2017

Synopsis: Award-winning artist Sylvia Long has teamed with up-and-coming author Dianna Aston to create this gorgeous and informative introduction to eggs. From tiny hummingbird eggs to giant ostrich eggs, oval ladybug eggs to tubular dogfish eggs, gooey frog eggs to fossilized dinosaur eggs, it magnificently captures the incredible variety of eggs and celebrates their beauty and wonder.

The evocative text is sure to inspire lively questions and observations. Yet while poetic in voice and elegant in design, the book introduces children to more than 60 types of eggs and an interesting array of egg facts. Even the endpapers brim with information. A tender and fascinating guide that is equally at home being read to a child on a parent's lap as in a classroom reading circle.

Note to readers:
•  Do a picture walk.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  Can you name any animals that hatch from eggs?
•  Have you ever seen eggs of different colors, other than white?

Vocabulary

•  Hatch - to be born by coming out of an egg
•  Beneath - directly under something or someone
•  Tendrils - something that is thin and curly
•  Clever - intelligent and able to learn things quickly
•  Resemble - to look or be like someone or something
•  Artistic - having or showing the skill of an artist
•  Textured - having a surface that it is not smooth

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  Which egg is your favorite (on page 5-6)?
•  Have you ever seen an egg as big as an ostriches?
•  Other than birds, what kinds of other animals come from eggs?

Craft ideas:
•  Cut a large egg shape out of construction paper. Have the kids decorate the egg. Cut the top of the egg off to make it look like it is hatching. Use a brad to attach one edge of the top of the egg to the bottom part of the egg. Cut out a picture of an animal. Glue it to the back of the bottom part of the egg. Leave a part of the animal sticking out from the top of the bottom part ,so that when the top part is lifted it will look like it is hatching. See Pinterest for examples.
•  Check our Animals in April craft ideas on Pinterest!
https://www.pinterest.com/readingtokids/april-2017-animals-environments//

Special activities:
•  Bring up pictures of some of the animals from the eggs on the first pages to show to the kids.

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!