ROLY-POLY EGG
by Kali Stileman & illustrated by Kali Stileman
Mother love leads to near tragedy in this tale of an egg. Rendered in smears of fiery red paint, Splotch the bird personifies her name. She learns the true testament of a mother’s love after she lays a magnificent polka-dotted egg. “It was small—yes, spotty—yes, and absolutely perfect in every way!" In her utter joy, she bounces her branch—and the egg falls off into the lush jungle habitat. Met with ambivalence by some and threat from others, the little one is tossed until it's gently returned to her grateful mom. A respite might seem to be in order, but then a startling sound signifies tremendous change: “Crack! Crack! Crack!” Splotch’s protruding eyes dominate each animated expression. Her scrawny patterned legs resemble her offspring’s ultimate zany appearance, and the egg's decoration mirrors the wild chick inside. Individual colored dots from brilliant greens to dramatic fuchsias connect the endpapers to the unique babe. Clean gray dashes provide a physical indicator of the remarkable journey, and a whimsical butterfly remains a silent sidekick throughout. Paint streaks collide with textured papers, creating a bright array of rainbow hues. Spare, crisp sentences describe each action, leaving lots of room for expansion in the bold mixed-media spreads. Vibrant designs breathe life into this mama, highlighting one endearing fowl with a ferocious heart. (Picture book. 3-6)