THE EGG AND I

There is a wicked and clever little twist that sets this story above the mainstream of cautionary tales. On his deathbed, Uncle McLaughton, a Scottish laird, portions out his estate: castle to Edward, jewelry and trinkets to Edward's wife Marilou, weapons and armor to Arthur, and as for nephew Matthew—``the good-for-nothing, he should go cook an egg.'' Ouch. But as things turn out, Edward, Marilou, and Arthur are no more than self-absorbed boors, and their inheritances no more than junk, rubble, and dust. Good-for-nothing Matthew (``he was only a zookeeper—not really a job where you can get rich''), who turns out to be rather a pleasant, caring chap, lands the windfall. There actually is an egg to cook, found down in the bowels of the castle, and it hatches a great green dinosaur, which brings Matthew fortune and glory; he buys back his uncle's estate from his cousins and renovates it. Chausse delivers her sly message with wit, while Crozat's illustrations infuse the characters with personality. (Picture book. 5-9)