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An Egg Is Quiet (Nature Books) by [Dianna Hutts Aston, Sylvia Long]

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Dianna Hutts Aston

An Egg Is Quiet (Nature Books) Kindle Edition

by Dianna Hutts Aston (Author), Sylvia Long (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition

713 ratings

Part of: Nature Books (6 books)

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Award-winning artist Sylvia Long has teamed with up-and-coming author Dianna Aston to create this gorgeous and informative introduction to eggs. From tiny hummingbird eggs to giant ostrich eggs, oval ladybug eggs to tubular dogfish eggs, gooey frog eggs to fossilized dinosaur eggs, it magnificently captures the incredible variety of eggs and celebrates their beauty and wonder.

The evocative text is sure to inspire lively questions and observations. Yet while poetic in voice and elegant in design, the book introduces children to more than 60 types of eggs and an interesting array of egg facts. Even the endpapers brim with information. A tender and fascinating guide that is equally at home being read to a child on a parent's lap as in a classroom reading circle. Plus, this is the fixed format version, which looks almost identical to the print edition.

Reading age

2 - 6 years, from customers
Print length

36 pages
Language

English
Grade level

Preschool - 7
Lexile measure

AD670L
Publisher

Chronicle Books LLC
Publication date

August 20, 2013
Page Flip

Not Enabled
Word Wise

Not Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

Not Enabled
ISBN-13

978-0811844284
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. This beautifully illustrated introduction to eggs resembles pages drawn from a naturalist's diary. The text, scrolled out in elegant brown ink, works on two levels. Larger print makes simple observations that, read together, sound almost like poetry: "An egg is quiet. . . . An egg is colorful. An egg is shapely." On each spread, words in smaller print match up with illustrations to offer more facts about bird and fish eggs across the animal spectrum. The illustrations are too detailed for read-alouds, but there's a great deal here to engage children up close. The succinct text will draw young fact hounds, particularly fans of Steve Jenkins' Biggest, Strongest, Fastest (1995) and his similar titles. Long's illustrations are elegant and simple, and the gallery of eggs, as brilliantly colored and polished as gems, will inspire kids to marvel at animals' variety and beauty. A spread showing X-ray views of young embryos growing into animal young makes this a good choice for reinforcing concepts about life cycles. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2–An exceptionally handsome book on eggs, from the delicate ova of the green lacewing to the rosy roe of the Atlantic salmon to the mammoth bulk of an ostrich egg. Aston's simple, readable text celebrates their marvelous diversity, commenting on size, shape, coloration, and where they might be found. The author occasionally attributes sensibilities to eggs (An egg is clever, for example). Still, her quiet descriptions of egg engineering and embryo development (no mention of mating) are on the mark, and are beautifully supported by Long's splendid watercolor depictions of a wide variety of eggs. (One teeny carp–Steller's jays are not spelled with an ar, though they are stellar performers when wheedling for your lunch at a campsite!) A beautiful guide to the unexpected panoply of the egg.–Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

Review

Like the subject matter it describes, this book packages with understated elegance the substantive matter found within it. "An egg is quiet. It sits there, under its mother's feathers . . . on top of its father's feet . . . buried beneath the sand," Aston (When You Were Born) begins, as spot illustrations zero in on a hummingbird, emperor penguin and sea turtle, respectively. The narrative then launches into a kind of survey about the characteristics of eggs, which follows a simple format. In most spreads, different adjectives (colorful, shapely, textured, etc.) complete the sentence, "An egg is . . . ." This repetitive rhythm contrasts with the visual variety of the illustrations. Long's (Sylvia Long's Mother Goose) skilled use of contrast and compositional balance prevent monotony. For example, a border that resembles a color test pattern runs down the outer edges of a spread of nearly 40 carefully placed "colorful" examples, set against a white background, which dazzle the eye. The main text appears in large, flowery cursive, while a smaller printed typeface serves as labels and brief factual captions. "An egg is clever," in fancy script, for instance, sits alongside examples of camouflage: "An egg might be speckled to resemble the rocks around it." The letters' dramatic curlicues mimic curvy grasses and vines dappled with tiny insect eggs. Long introduces breathtaking color into the final spreads, as a concluding scene "hatches from" this peacefulness, reminding readers of an egg's purpose. This attractive volume pleases on both an aesthetic and intellectual level. -Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Worthy successor to Ruth Heller's Chickens Aren't The Only Ones (1981), this engrossing album pairs images of dozens of precisely detailed eggs and their diverse wild parents to basic facts presented in neatly hand-lettered lines. Nearly all depicted actual size (and those that aren't, are consistently so labeled), Long's eggs look real enough to pick up, whether placed in natural settings or suspended on white pages. All, whether from birds, insects, reptiles, fish or amphibians, are not only identified, but Aston adds both topical phrases-"Eggs come in different sizes"-to each spread and, usually, memorably presented additional facts: "An ostrich egg can weigh as much as 8 pounds. It's so big and so round, it takes two hands to hold one egg." A delight for budding naturalists of all stripes, flecks, dots and textures." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"The succinct text will draw young fact hounds, particularly fans of Steve Jenkins' Biggest, Strongest, Fastest and his similar titles. Long's illustrations are elegant and simple, and the gallery of eggs, as brilliantly colored and polished as gems, will inspire kids to marvel at animals' variety and beauty." -Booklist

"An exceptionally handsome book...A beautiful guide to the unexpected panoply of 'the egg'." -School Library Journal

--This text refers to the hardcover edition.

About the Author

Dianna Hutts Aston is the author of many books for children. She lives in Texas.
Sylvia Long is the illustrator of many bestselling books for children. Her detailed paintings are inspired by her love of animals and the outdoors. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. --This text refers to the library edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00EB2Q5NY
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chronicle Books LLC; Library Binding edition (August 20, 2013)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 20, 2013
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4804 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 36 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #730,153 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #153 in Children's Biology Books (Kindle Store)
- #243 in Baby & Toddler Nursery Rhyme Books
- #366 in Children's Nonfiction Nature Books

Customer Reviews:
713 ratings

About the author

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Dianna Hutts Aston

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Dianna Hutts Aston is the author of many books for children and the founder of the Oz Project, a nonprofit foundation for disadvantaged children. She lives on an island off the coast of Texas.

Customer reviews

5 star		92%
4 star		6%
3 star		2%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Maria Christine

Excellent for Older Children, Too!

Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2020

Verified Purchase

I think this is a superb book in every respect. However, I disagree with the recommended age of ages of 5 and 6. It may be fun and informative for little children, but I also see it as very appropriate for older elementary-age children, who are more likely to understand the vocabulary, and can peruse and study the excellent, scientifically correct illustrations and descriptions at their leisure, or when they want to use the information for school reports or other purposes.

9 people found this helpful

Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2022

Verified Purchase

No definitive story line, so this is not for you if you need that. But it’s informative and a good read none the less. Bought for a preschool curriculum but it’s not one my kids reach for daily.

One person found this helpful

Quality reading

Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2022

Verified Purchase

This book is a great addition to my classroom library. The illustrations are wonderful!

Gorgeous and informative

Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2021

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Absolutely beautiful and fun to read. Gorgeously illustrated. Informative without being too much for littles, and has different stages of information sp the book grows with your kiddo! My 6 year old loves trying to match the egg illustrations in the front cover to the animals on the back.

Beautiful educational book series

Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2013

Verified Purchase

This book is among a series by Dianna Hutts Aston. Amazingly illustrated by Sylvia Long. My children adore these books; as each book in the series takes them carefully through a part of nature (rocks, seeds, eggs) and its natural cycle. The book cover pages alone are worth a long look, with carefully illustrated seeds/rocks/eggs. Enjoyable education at its best. Beautifully done, these books make excellent thoughtful gifts.

SYBIL BLAZEJ-YEE

Her books for children are both informative and gorgeously put together and will delight readers of all ages

Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2014

Verified Purchase

This award winning author has such an eye for the intricate, subtle and almost microcosmic detail of the subjects and topics she portrays. Her books for children are both informative and gorgeously put together and will delight readers of all ages. Sybil Blazej, Librarian, artist, children's book author and a dog walker

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2021

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This is a beautifully illustrated book about eggs! My kindergarten class loves it!

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2020

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A beautiful book with wonderful information. My kids and I loved this book!

Top reviews from other countries

Suzanne

Incredibly high quality, full of wonder

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2021

Verified Purchase

I just love books that are both factual and beautiful, and this is absolutely one of them. Really fills you with a sense of wonder at the magic of the natural world. Text is very accessible even though it describes complex things and illustrations are simply beautiful. If you enjoy this one, you'll also love the Nature Storybooks series published by Walker - similar blend of beautiful book and fascinating facts.

rebecca alice livsey

Wonderful book. Engaging and factual

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2021

Verified Purchase

I am a Montessori teacher so I am always looking for books that have beautiful illustrations and also inspires an interest in the natural world. This book did not fail 🙂
I read today in the class and the children loved it and they were very engaged.
I'm glad to have found this book and I will be buying more from this author.

Mr M C Tegg

books for children

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 15, 2019

Verified Purchase

The quality of small books/guides for children has never been better and this is up with the best of them

Tere Plaza

Lovely encyclopaedia for kids!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2017

Verified Purchase

It's a beautiful book. The drawings and the colours are just amazing. I didn't know that eggs come in so many different shapes, colours and sizes! Its like a nice and clever short encyclopaedia for kids! Totally recommended, even for adults!

3 people found this helpful

Paulette Phillips

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2017

Verified Purchase

Granddaughter age 7 loved it

3 people found this helpful

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Dianna Hutts Aston
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