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mdevlin923's review against another edition
4.0
Various critters transform from infants to adults, which is all recorded through stories and illustration (which began as words and paint).
A great focus on transformations! Share one-on-one or through storytime.
Storytime:
Farm Animals
A great focus on transformations! Share one-on-one or through storytime.
Storytime:
Farm Animals
kathydavie's review against another edition
2.0
A concept book in picture book form for young children that isn't a story. Instead it shows how life transforms into something else. The egg becomes a chicken, the tadpole becomes a frog, a word turns into a story, and paint creates a picture.
In 2008, First the __ won the Caldecott Honor and the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor. Which just figures since I didn't like how the "story" was presented.
My Take
There's a cute use of a cut-out in the first few pages as Seeger introduces us to the characters. Then Seeger explores how she painted the pictures, which somehow leads us back to the chicken who lays an egg.
To be honest, I don't get it. Sure, the textures of the paintings are gorgeous, and I enjoyed how Seeger used the cut-outs. But what was the point of it all? A tricky roundabout way to introduce kids to the cycle of life? But then why bother with anything other than the chicken and egg?
I'd've been better off if I'd read the book summary — so I could understand what the story was supposed to be about. Maybe little kids would figure it out sooner…
If money is an issue, borrow it from the library for the clever layout and pictures. If you have money to burn and are really, really bored…go for it.
The Characters
Egg, chicken, tadpole, frog, seed, flower, caterpillar, cocoon, and then butterfly.
The Cover and Title
The cover is clever and part of the title, I thought. Instead it turns out to be quite misleading to an OCD person like me. The only words are "First the" perched directly above the back of a chicken (on the book I read). It led me to think "First the Chicken". I guess someone figured the chicken was indeed confusing because the only other covers I could find was with the egg.
With that whining over, I do like the cover. There's a crayon-like feel to how the oils were used to smudge and stroke in the deep blue sky, the dark green grass, and a nice, fat, white hen. The title is a rough set of brush strokes.
The title of the book I read is First the (chicken). Other book covers read First the (Egg). Just so's you don't think there are two different books...
In 2008, First the __ won the Caldecott Honor and the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor. Which just figures since I didn't like how the "story" was presented.
My Take
There's a cute use of a cut-out in the first few pages as Seeger introduces us to the characters. Then Seeger explores how she painted the pictures, which somehow leads us back to the chicken who lays an egg.
To be honest, I don't get it. Sure, the textures of the paintings are gorgeous, and I enjoyed how Seeger used the cut-outs. But what was the point of it all? A tricky roundabout way to introduce kids to the cycle of life? But then why bother with anything other than the chicken and egg?
I'd've been better off if I'd read the book summary — so I could understand what the story was supposed to be about. Maybe little kids would figure it out sooner…
If money is an issue, borrow it from the library for the clever layout and pictures. If you have money to burn and are really, really bored…go for it.
The Characters
Egg, chicken, tadpole, frog, seed, flower, caterpillar, cocoon, and then butterfly.
The Cover and Title
The cover is clever and part of the title, I thought. Instead it turns out to be quite misleading to an OCD person like me. The only words are "First the" perched directly above the back of a chicken (on the book I read). It led me to think "First the Chicken". I guess someone figured the chicken was indeed confusing because the only other covers I could find was with the egg.
With that whining over, I do like the cover. There's a crayon-like feel to how the oils were used to smudge and stroke in the deep blue sky, the dark green grass, and a nice, fat, white hen. The title is a rough set of brush strokes.
The title of the book I read is First the (chicken). Other book covers read First the (Egg). Just so's you don't think there are two different books...
kayleeacton's review against another edition
5.0
First the Egg is all about what come before the final product. This can include objects, animals, or stories. It follows each object or animal and describes what is the beginning and end. For example, "First the egg, then the chicken". I would offer this in my classroom as a starter into the topic of beginning and final products. I would form a lesson around this book because there are multiple activities and questions that can be answered from reading this book.
mnstucki's review against another edition
4.0
Love the cut-outs that help create the illustrations from page to page!
kristenremenar's review against another edition
5.0
Love! Love the concept (first the egg, then the chicken, first the frog, then the tadpole, etc.), love the gorgeous art, love the cut-outs, love how the structure supports early readers, and love the closing of the circle at the end!
kamckim's review against another edition
5.0
This book is awesome for kids 4-6 years old. They can read it themselves and predict what comes next. The text and illustrations are simple and accessible, and the use of cut-outs makes sense. It's meaningful and not a gimmick.
mellenwood's review against another edition
4.0
Age: K-3
Genre: Informational
I enjoyed this book a lot. This book is good for beginner readers and teaches them what comes first in the life span of various animals. I would recommend this book to a teacher who is teaching a biology lesson about the life spans.
Genre: Informational
I enjoyed this book a lot. This book is good for beginner readers and teaches them what comes first in the life span of various animals. I would recommend this book to a teacher who is teaching a biology lesson about the life spans.
carissaplake's review against another edition
5.0
This book follows several different animals that begin as one thing and then become another like chickens and frogs. Then it also explains that things like stories have to begin with something. I think this could be used to help students understand that even if they do not start with something extraordinary, they have to start somewhere. They start as kids and become adults.
librariandest's review against another edition
5.0
Can I say I love cut out holes in picture books? Can I say I'm not really sure what cut-out holes are technically called? Die-cut? I must have missed that day in my Children's Materials class.
The point is this book is great and it has cut out holes. It's informational, but instead of just a bunch of discrete facts, Seeger cleverly brings things full circle and, whoah, this picture book just got deep, man!
The point is this book is great and it has cut out holes. It's informational, but instead of just a bunch of discrete facts, Seeger cleverly brings things full circle and, whoah, this picture book just got deep, man!