The Happy Egg

by Ruth (story by); Johnson Krauss, Crockett Johnson (Illustrator)

When a little bird is inside an egg, it cannot walk, it cannot sing, and it cannot fly. All it can do is be sat on. But when the time is just right: "Pop!" -- out it comes. And then a little bird can do almost anything!

The Happy Egg is just right for the youngest of readers, and the storyline lends itself to interactive reading—parents can encourage their children to walk, sing, and fly as the little bird does.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Birds, Animals, Storytime, Fiction, Classics

Paperback

First published January 1, 1949

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple and short children’s book that focuses on reminding children that you can only achieve certain things at certain times, but if you wait and grow you will be able to do everything in time.

I loved that this was illustrated by the creator of Harold And The Purple Crayon. It made a new (to me) tale feel familiar and welcoming.

Overall I loved the simplicity of this story and how it still manages to deliver a powerful and necessary lesson to children of all ages

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

The life cycle of birds has never been so boring.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deceptively simple.

A book doesn't need to be more complicated than this to be of interest to very young children.

It's hysterically funny to say aloud, "It couldn't walk. It couldn't sing. It couldn't fly. It could only get sat on. And sat on. And sat on. And sat on and sat on and sat on and sat on."

Maybe it's so funny because if children are sitting there for days waiting for an egg to hatch, I bet they'd be thinking exactly that!

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

William loved this, as he loves eggs hatching and likes the illustrator, too.

[Hillary]

I will make this into a flannel story for Family Storytime

[Cosette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed having this story read to me for a change!

[Katie Cat Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short simple story for young minds.

Story: The story revolves around a blue egg, that later becomes a bird.

Language: The language is very simple, few words per page, lots of repetition, super basic vocabulary and grammar. This is probably the most simple of Ruth Krauss' books.

Characters: The main character is the blue egg that becomes a bird. A second character is a white bird who hatches the egg. Neither bird talks or has a voice. A third character is a flower that is in every scene. The flower starts small and grows. There is no story about the flower but readers will notice it's development.

This would be a great story for a super young storytime or as a short filler between longer stories for a young group.

[Juushika · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is similar to The Carrot Seed, but less successful. Where The Carrot Seed has attitude and persistence, this has hope--it's a blander theme that makes for an unmotivated narrative, which is a problem in such a sparse and simply-illustrated book. (I feel like Krauss benefits from messier, more dynamic art, like Sendak's; I like Johnson elsewhere, but his collaborations with Krauss underwhelm me.) That said, this is probably intended for a much younger audience than what I've been reading.

[Ashley Stone]

This book briefly summarizes the life of a bird from before they hatch until they reach the flying stage in their life. For me, it was incredibly uneventful and boring, but for a toddler I think that it’s perfect. The illustrations are great and a toddler would probably love to hear about a baby bird. Possible themes could be birds or just simply what happens with different baby animals over time.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a recommended book for toddlers, so I figured I would check it out. I had no idea that the author and the illustrator (both famous in their own rights) were married to each other. I was not a fan of the story, finding it overly repetitive (more than I felt it needed to be even if it is good to be that way to this age group). Even my son was bored with it. Recommended for ages 1-4, 1 star.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very simple and basic story about an egg, who gets sat on, and who hatches, and becomes a bird, who can fly, and sit on eggs.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic.

[Schmobes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good level 1. Nice simple story, with simple illustrations.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple text and story that my audience enjoyed! Worth a read for older toddler/preschool.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read at Baby/Toddler Story Time at the Tenley library on 3/20/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

[Mckinley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not much of a story.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very simple, short story, funny and cute. Maybe not perfect for story time because of physical small size of book, but could work with a small group. I'm thinking good for toddlers.

[Joy Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

very simple and sweet

[The Book Box]

Mama read this to me before my nap.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a certain charm to this book. The charm, however, comes from the illustrations and not the text.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly simplistic...both in illustration and story. But it doesn't need to be overly complicated to get the message across. It is a cute story.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

simple text about an egg that gets sat on and finally hatches-- the bird can walk, sing, and fly and then will eventually sit on more happy eggs. it comes across to me as weird.

[Cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for beginner readers.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Happy Egg by Ruth Krauss, Illustrator Crocket Johnson- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates the story of an egg. The chick inside the egg is unable to move out. It is unable to move, sing and fly. The hen sits on it. When the chick comes out. She will now able to sit on her eggs and create new chicks. Message from the book- children can only achieve certain things at certain times, but if you wait and grow you will be able to do everything in time. I have read the Hindi translation of this book in Hindi language. The coloured illustrations help the reader to relate to this story. This book has an entertainment value for children.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short enough to read again and again, when your toddler asks for "just one more" before bed every night. Eventually they'll learn that a lot of life is being patient. While the flower grows taller, the egg gets sat on, and sat on, and sat on, and sat on, until finally it pops out ready for adventures!

Not a science book. Not a book to attach a discussion to. Just let your kiddos make of it what they will.

Avl. on openlibrary.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple story of an egg and a mother bird.

This is a great story for kids who are just getting the concept of reading because there's a phrase repeated many times and they can easily catch on and "read" it. The illustrations are minimal but cute. A very simple book, but great for pre-readers and bird lovers.

[Terry]

A sweet story that is as much "show" as tell. The color feels like spring itself, and the action-oriented text propels the simple story. This book is as fresh as spring itself.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple reader that introduces the concept of the life cycle and hatching eggs. Great for a Kindergarten lesson.

[skcocnaH · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book teaches kids inaccurate information about baby birds.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a charming book! The story was fun and I thoroughly enjoyed the Crockett Johnson illustrations. Krauss and Johnson are a husband & wife team.