Award Winning Non-fiction Picture Book

Eggs 1, 2, 3: Who Will the Babies Be?

By Janet Halfmann
Illustrated by Betsy Thompson
Blue Apple Books

Awards

Lupine Honor Book: Maine Library Association, 2013

Best 100 Children’s Books for Reading and Sharing: New York Public Library

Gold Best Book Award: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio

Who knew that platypus babies were called “puggles” or even that platypus moms laid eggs? Eggs 1, 2, 3: Who Will the Babies Be? examines eggs of all sizes. Ten different kinds of eggs are considered in this delightful counting picture book. Illustrator Betsy Thompson presents from one to ten eggs in a setting that holds a clue to each baby’s identity.

One egg, big and white,

snuggled on Papa’s feet in a land of ice and snow.

Who will the babies be?

Flip the page out or up and discover if you’ve guessed correctly!

1 penguin chick,

gray and fluffy, peeking out at me.

The book’s design and the artwork make it a charming book that young readers will ask to read again, delighted that they know the secrets now. The text is not overly rhymed but enriched with descriptive verbs and adjectives.

Young readers count the eggs of large and small birds, snakes, turtles, butterflies, fish, fireflies and frogs. When they’ve finished -

You’ve counted all the eggs from 1 – 10

Count the babies once again!

Gathering Books Award-Winning Book Challenge Status: 7/11