Pablo by Rascal. Translated by Anton Shuhaar

The solid board cover and strong paper ensures this a hard wearing book and it needs to be as it will be read and read again, its message of birth and development one which delights and intrigues all ages.

It starts with an egg.

Inside that egg, Pablo knows this will be his last night in  the shell as he knows he is now too big for his shell. After a good night’s sleep and a breakfast of a small croissant and a hot chocolate, he apprehensively pecks open a little hole. He peers out into the world, and wants to see more. He opens more holes: he listens to the wind and hears the crows and the buzz of a fly. He does not want to miss any sounds. Next he makes a hole for his beak and becomes aware of the smell of the soil and the flowers. He feels he wants to move in his new world and makes holes for his legs. He can wander around. He pecks holes for his wings and he can fly. But his shell still comes in handy.

This beautiful story of growing up, of setting out, of being introduced to the world around will bring laughs of recognition from the readers as they recall the first time they did something which is now taken for granted. Many families will recall their child’s first words, or the first steps, or the first laugh, and this book will be a wonderful sharing tool for readers at home and in the classroom.

Discussions may centre around the ideas of learning about a new environment, of the trepidation some feel at having to embrace something new, or adapt to change. The wonders this book evokes are endless. And it all starts with an egg.

But what an egg! Belgian illustrator and author, Rascal imbues the oval shape with emotions as the eyes peer out from the holes it punches in the shell, and all readers will watch as the senses come into play, the chick finding his feet and feeling his wings.

Gecko Press is an independent, international publisher of curiously good children’s books, based in Wellington, New Zealand.

Themes: Development, Birth, Growing up, First steps, Humour.

Fran Knight