M
ore than just chickens come from eggs, as Posada (Ladybugs)
explains. In fact, all kinds of critters—from spiders to penguins to octopuses—begin life as hatchlings. The repeated refrain, “Can you guess what is growing inside this egg?” pairs with a simple riddle-in-verse, prompting readers to identify various creatures. “This egg sits snugly on its father's feet./ He warms it with his body's heat./ Under his feathered belly, it's cozy and warm./ Safe from the icy Antarctic storm.” Although the eggs are presented up close, visual clues—often a glimpse of a nearby animal parent—provide helpful hints. (Here, the answer should be clear to any fans of March of the Penguins
or Happy Feet
.) A page turn reveals the answer, as well as a more expansive view of the animals' habitats and some prose factoids (“You can actually see the baby octopuses inside their eggs!”). Posada's paint and collage pictures are sumptuous in both texture and color; she beautifully evokes the furriness of a penguin's belly and the mounded dirt and sticks of an alligator's swampy nest. Even if the guessing may come easily, children will certainly learn a great deal about some youngsters of the animal kingdom. Ages 5-9. (Apr.)
