First the egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

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Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2009. ISBN 9781845079697.
(0+) Highly recommended. A 2008 Caldecott Honor Book and rightly so, this is a beautiful and fascinating picture book that looks at how things evolve. First comes a white cut-out of an egg and on page turn, the reader sees the egg change into a chicken. Then there is a tiny green cut-out of a tadpole which turns into a frog.Other wonders of nature follow, including a seed growing into a flower and a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Then in an interesting twist, a word turns into the story that has been read so far.
The illustrations are lush and colourful. Bold, bright brushstrokes show the beauty of the transformations. The simple text will lend itself to being read aloud to the very young and beginning readers would have a delightful book to practise simple words.
Certain to become a classic, this is one book that is sure to be cherished by its readers.
Pat Pledger

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