First the Egg
Author/Illustrator: Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Publisher: Roaring Books
Publication Year: 2007
Brief Summary: Which came first — the chicken or the egg? In this picture book featuring bold colors and sweeping brushstrokes (oil and pastel on canvas), the children get a look at different transformations (seed to flower, caterpillar to butterfly, etc.).
Awards, Honors and Prizes:
New York Times Best Illustrated Children”s Books of the Year, 2007′ ‘ Winner’ ” ‘ United States’ ” ‘
Randolph Caldecott Medal, 2008′ ‘ Honor Book’ ” ‘ United States’ ” ‘
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, 2008′ ‘ Honor Book’ ” ‘ United States’ ” ‘
A Baker’s Dozen: The Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy, 2008 ; Pennsylvania Center for the Book
Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2008 ; Bank Street College of Education ; Outstanding Merit
Capitol Choices, 2008 ; The Capitol Choices Committee
Choices, 2008 ; Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Horn Book Fanfare, 2007 ; Horn Book
Kirkus Book Review Stars, September 1, 2007
Notable Children’s Books, 2008 ; ALSC American Library Association
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, November 2007 ; Cahners
Ideas for using this book in classroom or library and/or brief notes on curriculum connections/content learning standards/Common Core, etc.:
- Science: Discuss transformations/life cycles. Look at the cycles in the book in more detail. What are some steps that Seeger leaves out that we can fill in?
- Pair this book with informational books about life cycles (Common Core). For example, Gail Gibbon’s From Seed to Plant or Apples. Define fiction vs. non-fiction/informational. What features do we see in informational books that are not in a fictional story? Compare/contrast.
- The final transformations are to do with word-to-story and paint-to-picture. Give children a single word and have them write a story based on that word, or a piece of paper with a single paint color and have them draw a picture. Discuss what steps are involved in the development of a story or how an artist might complete a picture. Invite a local writer/artist to come in and talk about their process.
Accessed at: Vancouver Public Library
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