Review by Booklist Review
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 annoyed her unmistakable facial expressions are marvelously rendered in Wan's cartoonish, thick-lined illustrations but 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.--Lock, Anita Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
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. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
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 Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
