Hatch!

by Roxie Munro

Crack! Who is inside the eggs? All kinds of baby birds! Can you guess what kind of bird is like a superhero and can fly as high as a jet plane? Or which bird builds nests that can weigh as much as a car? Or which bird sleeps on the water with one eye open? Read Hatch! and find out. Hatch! gives young readers a bird’s-eye view into the fascinating world of birds and their unique eggs and nests.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Birds, Science, Animals, Nature, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2011

About the author

Roxie Munro has been an artist from the age of six, when she won first prize in a county-wide contest for a painting of a bowl of fruit. She has supported herself all her life on her art, at one point freelancing in Washington DC as a television courtroom artist. Clients included CBS, the Washington Post, and the Associated Press. Fourteen of her paintings have been published as covers of "The New Yorker" magazine.

Roxie is an award-winning author/illustrator of more than 35 books for children, primarily nonfiction. Her books have been translated into French, Italian, Dutch, Chinese, and Japanese. Recent books: "Hatch!"; "EcoMazes: 12 Earth Adventures"; "Desert Days, Desert Nights"; "Inside-Outside Dinosaurs"; and "Busy Builders."

"Roxie's a-MAZE-ing Vacation Adventure" is an interactive animated maze game app for the iPad and iPhone; "Roxie's Doors" is a 3-D animated book app for the iPad (OCG Studios, developer). She also did all the art for the new product KIWiSTORYBOOKS (Kids Interactive Walk-in Story Books).

She creates oils, watercolors, prints, and drawings, primarily cityscapes, which are exhibited widely in the US in galleries and museums. Roxie's work is in numerous private, public, and corporate collections.

Roxie Munro studied at the University of Maryland, the Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore), received a BFA in Painting from the University of Hawaii, attended graduate school at Ohio University (Athens), and received a Yaddo Fellowship. She lectures in museums, schools, conventions, and teaches watercolor on ships, workshops, and in the Paint in Italy program.

Many of her paintings are views from the roof of her sky-lighted loft studio in Long Island City, just across the East River from her home in mid-Manhattan. Roxie is married to the Swedish writer/photographer, Bo Zaunders.

Check out her website at www.roxiemunro.com

Reviews

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about several species of birds. It's format first asks, "Can you guess whose eggs these are?" Then it gives a descriptive hint, and, by turning the next page, reveals the bird species. The book also tells the reader a few of the other animals or species that live in the habitat. The cover and illustrations will appeal to younger students, but the texts is geared toward older students. I can see this book used in a language arts unit or a science unit.

[Denice Hein · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. Surprise by Miles Van Hout, 2013
2. Hatch! is a wonderful informational picture book with a variety of birds being presented to the reader. Surprise is a beautiful picture book with a variety of birds and bird behaviors presented in a colorful format. The extension can be made from the information and behaviors presented in Hatch! in the “Can you guess” format can be extended to Surprise when asking students to guess what type of bird is illustrated. Both bird books will be in competition to get into early elementary children’s hands!
3. Problem/Solution or truly Question/Answer with descriptions to follow.
4. HATCH! naturally lends itself to DL-TA. A picture is shown to allow students to make predictions. The text asks “Can you guess whose eggs these are? “ Then some information is given without revealing the bird. Students can have a discussion with other predictions being made. Turn the page and illustrations of the bird and more information is given. With the twin text, a like activity can occur with no real right answer since the author doesn’t name the birds. But using the non fiction text students may be able to recognize by shapes or behaviors. An extension activity would be to have students create birds like those in Surprise using found objects or older students could use words or phrases about that species of bird to create a shape. Form Poem-ish.

[Steve Holden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully written and illustrated science book on birds. It details 9 birds - eggs, nests, and information. The writing is geared more towards older students, but the cover and displays on pages will appeal to a younger crowd. This book would be a must in a unit on birds. I discovered this at the library recently and was impressed enough to check it out and have it displayed as an early science/informational feature in my classroom. I think my students will enjoy flipping through it, although not all will be able to read all of the information.

[Lauran Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is obviously written for an older child, but it is a great book! It teaches its readers all about different types of birds and the eggs they hatch from. The illustrations are very detailed and colorful as well. I think this is a great opportunity to learn.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an excellent little introduction to birds, perhaps a bit word heavy, but still good.

The Kindle edition, however, is not formatted very well. Get the physical book.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting tidbits of info about various birds designed as a guessing game.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hatch! is a lovely and informative book about different kinds of birds and the eggs which they hatch from.

Within this book we see many kinds of birds, starting with an egg on a page to guess what the bird is followed by the bird in its natural habitat. This is a great way to introduce the birds in the book as it helps the children think about where birds come from. The writing on each page is a good length which makes it informative and detailed but not too much to read.

The illustrations in the book are very good with each bird being shown in a cartoon style with a realistic background behind it. It is brilliant how the environment also shows other birds or creatures that live their as it could extent the learning from the book and is fun to look for.

This is a great book to learn about birds and see the different environments each of them lives in.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Goodreads, is not being nice today, has not been nice the last few weeks. i read the kindle version, not the hard cover, and it will not allow me to change it?? goobers.) great read, so fun. i really enjoy Roxie's writing and illustrator ... well done. must read ... this time i did read from her: Slithery Snakes (why i read this one at night, i will never know, i will always appreciate snakes and their beauty, their amazing colors, but if u r like me and don't enjoy them in person, u might wanna read this in well lighted hours, LOL!! but like i said the illustrations are just so amazing, like they are right there with u ... so cool. never said snakes are not cool, in more ways than one but they don't usually like humans. BITE!), Busy Builders & Hatch!

[Hayley Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very factual book. It gets the reader to think about what birds the egg belongs too. Whilst it isn't the most exciting story it would be useful to use with a class to discuss science topics - different habitats, different species of birds. Children could create their own fact book about a particular animal species, children could practice descriptive writing or even draw lots of different birds. It could be linked to music lessons and the different sounds birds and other animals make.

[Tiffany Rachann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Famous Feathered Friends

Birds are a fascinating species. From the way they communicate to the way they rear their young, these feathered friends all have something in common and it's evident in Hatch! Perfect to introduce school-aged children to a good variety while teaching contrast, comparison, and how to keep a science journal.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational

A really interesting book which makes you think and also teaches you facts about well known birds. Really well drawn with exquisite detail that shows the male/female colourings beautifully. A great resource for all those parents who are now having to homeschool!

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

A children's book of birds.

Good color artwork,freebie. A fact filled book about birds. Had a visual guide to eggs, nest, habitat, diet. Suitable for children over six. Double tap printing to read.

[Cyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed pictures with lots of things to see and talk about. The cover might imply a book about ducks hatching, but it's really about different looking eggs and what birds hatch from those eggs. Interesting and educational.

[Concetta Kellough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, and I think preschool to 2nd graders would as well. Most kids love animals. It shows different eggs (great illustrations) and asks the reader what bird will hatch out of it. Turn the page to see what bird it is.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Text gives you clues to guess whose eggs are illustrated on the page. Then turn the page to see if you were right and to get additional information about that bird. The format is fun, but the writing is rather dry.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a good book and I liked the book👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍...

It is a good book to teach kids about birds.I love the book. It can be a great way for sience.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An elementary level nonfiction picture book about birds and their eggs where each two page spread shows an egg and gives clues. The next page reveals the bird and facts about it

[Lizzy McGovern · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****
What bird can fly as high as an airplane, or can sleep while flying, or make their nests as big as cars? Find these answers and much more in this interactive peek into the habits and lives of nine different birds. Framed in a question-and-answer format, this engaging picture book depicts an illustration of eggs and asks “who’s eggs are these”, turning the page will bring you the answer and a wealth of information on the particular bird that the egg(s) produced. The information on the featured bird is highlighted by a detailed full spread ink illustration of the bird and its habitat. Munro has created a fun and interesting way to delve into the world of birds by keeping the information clear and direct. Each bird treated is not only depicted lively and realistically by the heavy ink illustrations but each has their moment in the spotlight by the little-known facts provided in bold text. Profiles of the featured birds are filled with factoids of their habits and habitats. For instance, Emperor Penguins are clumsy walkers and "sometimes slide on their stomachs like a toboggan" or that Baltimore Orioles babies "have been called the 'crybabies of the world' because of their constant cries for food." There are also small blurbs at the bottom of the page that list other animals that can be found in the same habitat; readers will pour over the details for search and find excitement. The book vibrates with energy and succeeds in making the simple delivery of facts about birds an action oriented adventure. The tone is playful and the language has a distinct clarity while at the same time delivering information that would require a basic understanding of bird terminology and habitats. Accuracy of the information provided was reviewed by expert in the field Ecologist Caleb E. Gordon. Includes a fun "Did you know" question game and a list for further reading as well as a list of "Fun Bird Words". This book is sure to delight 5 to 10 year old's and inspire future bird-enthusiasts and nature lovers.

[Cemeread · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I liked this book I'm not sure about which age group it should be used with. The first page has an introduction to birds in general and a few did you know facts about birds appearing in the book. After this the spreads alternate. A spread shows the eggs of a bird with the opposite page having a paragraph of clues to guess whose eggs are shown. The next spread is a full two page illustration of the birds' (both male and female)habitat, and the nest with babies in it. Other animals who would live in the same habitat are included along with a highlighted box naming the habitat and other animals to look for. I really liked this feature. A colored egg shape has the information about the birds, which varies by bird, but usually includes food and something about the babies. Again about a paragraph long. The illustrations are rendered in color ink. A final page has a glossary of bird terms and a find out more section. I would have liked the eggs to be drawn to actual size or at least more variance shown for the sizes. The hummingbird eggs aren't much smaller then the ostrich's.

At first I did not think preschoolers and kindergartners would be able to guess the birds. Now I do think they could name a few. The clues paragraph is very fact ladened and makes the book seem a bit long for these ages. I think I might either skip the clues portion, read about just the birds I think they can guess, use no other books if reading the whole book, or read it in two sittings. The book will probably work well with first through third graders.

[Emmaline MacBeath · Rating 4 out of 5]

SUMMARY: This book presents an illustrated egg with facts on a two page spread. Then when you turn the page, you find out the name of the bird and see it illustrated in its natural habitat along with other animals you might see there.

ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations were created in ink. They are nicely done and colorful. They are a bit too busy, however, especially for the younger readers.

THE GOOD: This was a fun way to present information about birds. You see the egg first with some facts that may help you guess which bird the egg belongs to. And seeing the birds in their very different habitats was enlightening.
THE NOT AS GOOD: The information was presented as one fat paragraph on each page. It looked pretty in its information "cloud," but for younger readers, it would be easier to read if the facts were spread out with bullets next to each fact. The eggs were all presented as the same size even though they vary greatly in real life. It would have been nice to see the eggs shown on the page in actual size.

AGE RECOMMENDATION: Grades 2-5

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Mrs. Bagley, a bird-watching enthusiast and teacher at our elementary school, many of my children have also developed a hearty interest in birds.

This book was fun because the information about the birds was divided into two pages. The first page showed the eggs of the bird and gave you some hints about "whose eggs these are."

When you turn the page you see the birds, the full-colored environment that the bird lives in, including the kind of nest the bird builds, other animals that live in that habitat, plus more information about the birds. The facts were perfectly peppered with interesting tidbits so that we really wanted to read all about them.

The foot of the page lists the other animals present in the picture and asks you to find them, seek and find style.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fine collection of nine fairly common birds, some of which are unable to fly. I was particularly impressed by the interactive nature of the book's design. The author/illustrator uses two two-page spreads to show the egg and offer tidbits about the egg before revealing the bird to which the egg belongs. She takes care to place the bird and its young in its natural habitat along with other species that are typically found there, thus, illustrating the connection between some unlikely species. While her reasons for choosing these particular birds is not provided, back matter includes sources for additional information and neat bird words.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readers are shown several different sets of eggs and asked to guess what bird laid them. Clues are given as to how big the eggs are, how many are laid at a time, and how the eggs are cared for. On the page after each picture the answer is given with a very detailed illustration. Information is then given on the birds themselves and what else exists in that particular habitat.

This is an overall interesting book that will invite children to examine its pictures. Unfortunately the eggs are not shown life size. For example, the hummingbird eggs are the same illustrated size as the ostrich eggs. Steve Jenkins books are much better at "Actual Size."

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the question and answer format, "Can you guess whose eggs these are?" and Munro's paintings of the birds and nests in their habitats. I like the inclusion of other animals native to that habitat. I wish the eggs were depicted actual size or closet to it, because there is not a dramatic difference between the ostrich's egg and the hummingbird's eggs (though they are on different pages -- it is the text that cues the reader in: the hummigbird's are only the size of a pea, whereas the ostrich's can be up to 7 inches long. Good to pair with or as a companion to An Egg is Quiet.

[Katherine Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture non-fiction book is about the different kinds of birds that exist. It has great drawings of birds in their habitat along with pictures of their eggs. Before the author introduces each bird, she gives the picture of the eggs and a small paragraph of what the bird is like. It helps the reader to guess what bird will hatch from the egg in the picture and then proceeds to explain about the bird. I like how this engages the reader and keeps them interested in the reading. Teachers can use this book during themes about birds or comparing and contrasting different birds.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the newest in our growing collection on the subject. The pages alternate between an egg and the bird in their habitat. "Can you guess whose eggs these are?" begins each new puzzle. What follows are some clues about the bird that will be revealed on the next page. It is intended for an older audience so it is a book we can grow into, but for now our twins enjoy reading the opening question and then revealing the bird and looking at the habitat. 4+

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First the reader sees the egg and reads clues about whose eggs they are, and the next page shows the bird in its habitat and tells about that particular bird. I didn't have a guess myself on a few of them, so it was fun to learn about new birds. My preschooler liked searching for other animals in each habitat.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid offering with many interesting facts about specific species of birds, many of which are not generlaly known. I did feel that it would have been nice to include photos, even if at the back, of each of the birds. The look-and-find pages were nice, but when I turned the page to discover which bird matched the eggs, I wanted to SEE the bird, not a drawing of it.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oversized format allows for intensely illustrated double page spreads with a "just right" amount of detail and content to make this book work for young readers and older ones, too. The intro and back matter are excellent extensions and validate the authenticity of the voice and content.
Pair with "An Egg Is Quiet".

[Inna Nako · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grade 3-5, Animal parents and offspring, Habitats of organisms

-engaging book for the students
-all about different types of birds
-there is an egg and facts on one page, and on the next,the bird type is explained
-basic facts about birds are given throughout, and they would fall into the basic characteristics of animals that students are required to know
-colorful art covers the entire page