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Daniel's Mystery Egg

Name: Daniel's Mystery Egg
Author: Alma Flor Ada
ISBN: 9780152048457

by Alma Flor Ada, G. Brian Karas

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Overview

Daniel finds an egg. What kind of animal will this mystery egg hatch? Imaginations run wild as the kids in Daniel’s class guess what sort of surprise the egg has in store.

When he finds an egg, Daniel and his friends try to guess what is inside.

Synopsis

Daniel finds an egg. What kind of animal will this mystery egg hatch? Imaginations run wild as the kids in Daniel’s class guess what sort of surprise the egg has in store.

Children's Literature

When Daniel finds a small white egg, he puts it in a box and asks his friend what they think will hatch from the egg. They suggest a variety of rather frightening creatures, from a very large ostrich, to a fierce alligator and a noisy duck. Daniel counters each with a calm statement saying that he thinks the egg will produce a small quiet animal. Happily, Daniel is proven right. Karas creates a completely different looking image to capture the fearsome creatures that Daniel's friends propose, and their somber tones and look add to the mystery. A "Green Light Reader," level 2 for grades 1 and 2. 2001, Harcourt, $10.95 and $3.95. Ages 6 to 8. Reviewer:Marilyn Courtot

About the Author, Alma Flor Ada

G. BRIAN KARAS has illustrated dozens of popular books, including Cinder-Elly and Sleepless Beauty by Frances Minters, Saving Sweetness and Raising Sweetness by Diane Stanley, and the HiRise Private Eyes beginning-reader series by Cynthia Rylant. He lives in Rhineback, New York.

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Editorials

Children's Literature

School Library Journal

Gr 1-2-An appealing story in which a boy finds a small white egg. He shows it to three friends, one at a time. Each child speculates as to what might be inside and how to help once it has hatched. After some waiting, what emerges is not an ostrich or an alligator or a duck, as his friends imagined, but a lizard, exactly the kind of animal Daniel predicted-"small, nice, and quiet." Karas's collages cover three-fourths of each spread or page and are either above or below the text. Most are in full color, with the exceptions being the illustrations that represent what the three imagine is in the egg. Those pictures are more muted and depict the kids peeking over the edges of the scenes. With large-sized type, short sentences, repeated words and phrases, and plenty of illustrations, this book is just right for beginning readers.-Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Daniel finds a small egg underneath a bush. His friends imagine that when it hatches, the creature may be big, loud, or dangerous, but Daniel hopes it will be small, quiet, and nice. Vowel blends and complicated consonant combinations will suit the growing reading skills of second-graders, but the handling of the subject raises important issues. Daniel removes the animal from its environment and fancies that beyond his curiosity, there is nothing else to be considered. Where the animal may have survived on its own, now it is in the hands of a young boy who wonders about nothing but what nice animal might be in the egg. (A lizard, as it turns out.) Though the text size, word choice, and smooth flow of writing combine well with Karas's (The Class Artist, not reviewed, etc.) simple drawings, the unconscionable attitude that wild creatures are up for grabs is inhumane. (Easy reader. 6-8)