PEG'S EGG

In her third outing, a well-meaning chick learns the importance of a good sense of humor.

After Peg finds an egg left in a field all by itself, she remembers how scared she felt all alone in her shell and decides to take care of it. She keeps it warm, safe, and dry. But Peg grows impatient and gives the egg a little nudge, which sends it bouncing down a hill and into the farmyard. Suddenly she discovers it’s not an egg after all; it’s just a speckled ball. Embarrassed, Peg’s tempted to run, hide, or scream, but she realizes the best thing to do is laugh at herself. Peg is a cute little chick, with fluffy yellow feathers and big cartoon eyes. Most of the illustrations feature the green field, but there is plenty of emotion and movement in the simple setting. One stunning layout shows Peg determined to protect her egg from the rain, shielding it with a few small green leaves, raindrops rushing all around her. When the egg starts to roll, with Peg darting after it, a blur of feathers and color ricochets across the page. The message that everyone errs from time to time is simple and effectively conveyed without belaboring the point. The just-right blend of silliness and concise lesson make the tale appropriate for preschoolers.

Imbued with a sweetly simple takeaway, an endearing adventure with a plucky pullet.