I'm Not Hatching

November 23, 2015
A chick named Peep can’t wait for her sibling to hatch, but Egg has plenty of reasons to stay in his shell. Peep tries to tempt Egg with visions of everything they’ll do together, but splashing in puddles is “too wet,” and playing hide and seek with the pigs and sheep is “too loud.” Peep tries to stay upbeat, but when she puts her wings on her hips and scowls, readers will know that she isn’t going to beg forever. “Okay, I guess you’re not ready.... See ya later,” Peep tells Egg, who promptly realizes he had better hatch after all. Gehl’s (Hare and Tortoise Race Across Israel) just-enough text delivers a spot-on channeling of a coaxing parent and oppositional child, while Wan (The Whale in My Swimming Pool) blends expressive emoji-like characters (even unhatched, Egg has a vividly cranky personality) with ingeniously geometric settings. A scene in which Peep and Egg imagine watching a sunrise together is a marvelous array of shapes and lines. Ages 2–6. Author’s agent: Erzsi Deàk, Hen & Ink Literary Studio. Illustrator’s agent: Teresa Kietlinski, Prospect Agency.

November 1, 2015
Egg will not hatch in spite of all the fun things he could do with Peep. What will it take to get him to hatch? Peep is a cute little chick with a pink gingham bow on her head, and she would love Egg to hatch. There are so many things they could do together, if only he would. But Egg is being ornery and finds something he doesn't like with every proposal. "Too high," he says of watching the sunrise from the roof of the henhouse. "Too wet," of splashing in puddles. "Too far," of strolling to the pond to say hi to the ducks. And "Too buggy," of taking a nap in the tall grass. But when Peep proposes a blueberry-muffin picnic, Egg has had enough, yelling in no uncertain terms "I'M NOT HATCHING!" As Peep gives up and waves "See ya later," matching stubbornness for stubbornness, Egg hatches! Rendered with thick lines, flat colors, and simple cartoonlike shapes, Wan's illustrations are a joyous complement to Gehl's text. Children will listen in anticipation of what will make Egg finally hatch; their adult readers will smile in recognition of the predictable toddler stubbornness. Delightful and right on target. (Picture book. 2-5)

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2016

PreS-K-Peep, an adorable baby chick, can barely wait for Egg to hatch. Egg, however, is hesitant. In fact, Egg is so fearful that he has decided not to hatch at all. In an attempt to lure her anxious friend out of his shell, Peep begins describing all the things they can do together. When she tells Egg they can watch the sunrise from the roof of the henhouse, Egg informs her that the roof is too high. When she suggests splashing in puddles, Egg drolly replies, "Too wet." Each entreaty is illustrated with an exuberant Peep wreathed in smiles and a very dour Egg looking put upon. The tide turns, however, when Peep leaves without reading Egg a story. He is so desirous of one that he hatches, and the book concludes with the two of them on the roof of the henhouse happily reading, albeit with Egg sporting a helmet in case of a fall! Charmingly illustrated by Wan with bold strokes and spot-on facial expressions, this picture book is delightful. Gehl has created an appealing duo with the enthusiastic Peep and the lovably neurotic Egg. The constant refrain of "I'm not hatching" will be a winner at storytime. VERDICT A clever way to demonstrate overcoming one's fears.-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MI

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2016
Preschool-G Peep can't wait until her friend Egg hatches, so she tries to entice her with exciting plans. We can watch the sunrise from the roof of the henhouse, Peep suggests. But Egg is reticent: Too high . . . I'm not hatching. For each of Peep's plans, Egg always has an excuse or justification, punctuating her point with a repeated I'm not hatching. With every negative comment from her friend, Peep grows increasingly annoyedher unmistakable facial expressions are marvelously rendered in Wan's cartoonish, thick-lined illustrationsbut when Peep decides to leave Egg alone, Egg decides it's better to come out of her shell. Gehl's use of hatching as a metaphor is a great choice for the story, particularly for little ones feeling shy themselves. Her short sentences, along with the predictable plot and repeated refrain, make this a great read-aloud, particularly in concert with Wan's bold, eye-catching, large-format artwork. Kids will get a kick out of Peep and Egg's hilarious antics, and adults will be grateful for the breezy introduction to conversations about fears.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

August 1, 2016
What’s the only thing more adorable than a Joyce Wan character? A Joyce Wan character in a Halloween costume. In this sequel to Peep and Egg: I’m Not Hatching, Egg might have lost his shell, but he hasn’t lost his negative attitude. His sibling, Peep, urges him to come trick-or-treating with her, but thoughts of vampires, mummies, and monsters are giving him pause (never mind that the “vampires” in question are heart-stoppingly cute costumed ducklings swimming in a pond). As in the previous book, when Peep stops trying to persuade Egg to join in the Halloween fun and leaves him to his own devices, he has a change of heart. It’s a familiar story of opening oneself up to new experiences, but Gehl’s lighthearted dialogue and Wan’s chunky, emotive graphics keep it feeling fresh. Ages 2–6. Author’s agent: Erzsi Deàk, Hen & Ink Literary Studio. Illustrator’s agent: Teresa Kietlinski, Prospect Agency.

July 1, 2016
Eager for an egg to hatch, chick Peep tells Egg about the things they'll do together after it hatches. Egg refuses: everything is too scary, too high, etc. When Peep gives up trying to convince Egg, Egg is finally compelled to break out of its shell. The predictable story about overcoming fears is enhanced by graphically pleasing cartoon illustrations.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)