First the Egg is a New York Times bestselling children's picture book written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger, published by Roaring Book Press in 2007.[1] It was a Caldecott Honor Book in 2008[2] and also appeared on the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books list[3] and the American Library Association Notable Children's Books list.[4]
![]() First edition | |
Author | Laura Vaccaro Seeger |
---|---|
Illustrator | Laura Vaccaro Seeger |
Cover artist | Seeger |
Language | English |
Genre | Children's fiction, picture book |
Publisher | Roaring Brook Press |
Publication date | September 4, 2007 |
Publication place | United States |
Awards | Caldecott Honor Book |
ISBN | 9781596432727 |
The book comprises a series of die-cut pages that convey various forms of transformation. Seeger uses word play and alters the composition of the illustrations between cut-outs to create unexpected relationships among basic concepts such as time, opposites, and colors.[5] In 2009, the company Weston Woods Studios, Inc. made a version of the book, narrated by Elle Fanning, with music by Jack Sundrud and Rusty Young.
Reception
editPublishers Weekly described First the Egg as "another nimble page-turner...",[6] and Inis magazine called it "whimsical and bold..."[7]
Awards and honors
edit- New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books (2007)
- Caldecott Honor Book (2008)
- American Library Association Notable Children's Books (2008)
References
edit- ^ "New York Times Best Sellers - April 20, 2008", New York Times.
- ^ "Caldecott Medal & Honor Books, 1938-Present", American Library Association.
- ^ "New York Times Sunday Book Review", New York Times, November 11, 2007.
- ^ “2008 Notable Children's Books”, American Library Association.
- ^ First the Egg, Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2007.
- ^ "First the Egg". www.publishersweekly.com. PWxyz LLC. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
- ^ Myers, Lindsay (2009). "First the Egg". Inis #30 (Winter). Children's Books Ireland. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.