Ten Eggs in a Nest

December 15, 2013
Ten eggs hatch, and the counting begins in this tale aimed at the very youngest readers. Gwen the hen and Red Rooster are thrilled when their eggs hatch. Red has not been allowed to count the eggs in the nest, as that would bring bad luck. When the first chick hatches, Red rushes to get a worm from Pinky Pig, only to arrive back at the nest to find two more. As each batch of baby chicks is born, Red and Gwen add and count them joyfully. Red purchases more worms, counting and paying the appropriate amount of coins. That is the whole tale, but Sadler manages to keep it fast-paced and lively. Repetitive phrases and plot patterns mix with delightfully descriptive language and surprise elements to keep readers and listeners agog with interest. Proud papa Red struts and puffs his chest when he tells Pinky of his newborn chicks. When he realizes that the final count was 10, "[y]ou could have knocked him over with a feather." Lots of white space surrounds heavy, black, large print with the names of numbers emphasized in all capitals. Fleming's black-outlined, brightly colored illustrations are expressive and filled with action, aptly capturing all the excitement while allowing little readers to count along with Red and Gwen. A happy and entertaining tale. (Early reader. 2-5)

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January 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 1-It's an exciting day for counting in the hen house. Gwen the hen insists it's bad luck to count your eggs before they hatch, so rooster Red doesn't count but waits faithfully by her side. When the first chick arrives, the proud papa visits the local Worm World for a welcome-snack, only to find more hatchlings when he returns. The rooster continues to go to the market until a total of ten worms fill his brown shopping bag and Pinky Pig receives one coin per worm. Young readers will find multiple opportunities to count here: Gwen counts her new chicks, Pinky counts the worms, and Red counts the coins-not just singly, but adding 1+2+3+4 as each group of eggs hatch. Bright yellow chicks and their equally colorful parents appear in simple, uncluttered painted images. This early reader offers clear visual clues for interpretation of text, a large font, and plenty of opportunity to sum up the story in more than one way. A recommended purchase for any library with a collection for emerging readers.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2014
Because Gwen the hen reminds him that "it's bad luck to count your eggs before they hatch," Red Rooster makes several back-to-back trips to the worm store to buy one for each of ten new baby chicks as they hatch. The easy-to-read, repetitive text in this slight tale about an excited new father provides counting practice and is supported by large, clear illustrations.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)