The Easter Chick

by Géraldine Elschner, Alexandra Junge (Illustrator)

Hilda the hen fusses lovingly over her beautiful egg. But weeks go by and her baby still doesn't hatch. Then one day, a tiny voice coming from inside the egg asks, ""Mother, when is Easter?""Hilda doesn't know for sure. But Hilda's little chick wants to hatch on Easter Sunday, so Hilda makes it her mission to find the answer. A doting mother and her determined baby - with some advice from a wise owl - create an Easter dream come true in this delightful holiday story. Adding to the fun is an Easter bunny hunt, with rabbits hidden in many of the pictures for sharp-eyed youngsters to find.

Genres: Picture Books, Holiday, Animals, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2003

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe there is some tradition in German Easter stories that these little books are part of. Maybe it's coincidence that the German Easter stories I've read have been so lame. Maybe Easter is just a hard holiday to make non-religious picture books about.

I mean, if you take out religion, what is Easter but candy and flowers? You could call it a generic spring holiday, but this book focuses on the specific date of Easter, which depending on the year and where you live may for all practical purposes fall at a time that seems to still be winter. It also seems disingenuous to explain the calculations for the shifting date of Easter without alluding to Passover or the Jewish calendar.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The Easter Chick is beautifully illustrated and cleverly woven children's book about Easter and how the date is determined each year using science and the universe to guide us. This was such a cute read and definitely worth to time to read with every child over Easter.
Hilda the hen is worried because her egg hasn't hatched yet but her little chick wants to hatch on Easter day. With help from a friend they figure out (much to the chick's excitement and impatience) when Easter day will be. I loved the concept of this book and it certainly educated me too!

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

You learn something new every day ... and from a picture book no less! I never knew how Easter was determined and why it fell sometimes in March and sometimes in April. I do now, though. A fun and clever read!

Ages: 4 - 9

#easter

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[Psusan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Easter Chick by Geraldine Elschner is an entertaining as well as an educational story. Hilda, the hen little chick is determined not to hatch out of the egg until Easter. Hilda goes on a search to find out how long that would be. By the end how the date of Easter is discovered not just for Hilda but for this reader too.

I read this story with a preschooler who was not as interested in the science of Easter date setting as I was. His favorite part was the hatching of the little chick though w he thought the cat was not to be trusted according to the cat’s expression on meeting the little chick.

I thought the story was cute, the illustrations lovely. However, this story especially the illustrations deserve a closer look to find the religious symbols of the season. Definitely a book to bring out every year for the young ones in your life, being sure to read deeper as you do.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice that it explains how the date of Easter is determined, but that's all this book has going for it.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There aren't that many Easter books that explain why Easter's date moves around that are accessible for small children, but this one does, in a very sweet way. A little chick waits inside her egg eager to hatch...but she wants to hatch on Easter because she's overheard the other animals chatting about what a wonderful holiday it is. Her mother-hen must learn the 3 signs that point towards Easter so that she can share them with her soon-to-be baby.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilda the Hen has laid an egg, but she hears a voice from inside that says it wants to hatch on Easter morning. Hilda seeks the advice of Max the wise owl, and he helps her and her baby chick with the timing to hatch on the designated day. This story explains how and why Easter comes at different times, and is based on the seasonal change and the cycle of the moon.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

How cute! The chick was so adorable! I thought this story was fabulously endearing. =)

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilda starts to fret when her egg doesn't hatch until it starts talking to her. The chick desperately wants to be an Easter Chick and refuses to come out of the egg until Easter. Except, no one knows when Easter is. After running around, Hilda talks to Max the owl who knows when Easter is and he hoots occasionally to let them know the date is drawing near.
Finally, Easter arrives and the chick hatches.

Cute illustrations. Yes, I understand it's for kids, but it's just strange. The chick couldn't survive in the egg for like 5 weeks waiting Easter. That just kind of bothered me. Plus, the chick was manipulative, wanting a bunch of attention by 'hatching' on Easter.
But that's adult me talking. I'm sure kids enjoyed the book. My son liked it.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great children's book helping kids learn to know when Easter is, which is something I still struggle with... I know it has to do with the moon and the season... but this book does a great job of making it easy to understand. I loved the characters and the illustrations. I think this is a great book for children's story time at libraries and schools.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like my Easter books with religion, and this book does not have that. But I do find this interesting because my daughter has asked about this very thing! Lovely illustrative style too. Not one I’d purchase for our home collection but I will add it to our seasonal library rotation.

Grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to preview this ahead of a reprint.

[Andreea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange of my honest opinion.


I kinda like it, but overall it feels like a forgettable story or at least not one you'll reach for too often. The art was comical and the concepts are there but the techniques were off at time - some parts were amazing, some illustrations felt like sketches.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't crazy about the style of illustration in this book, but I did like that it explains how the date for Easter is determined, and that there are obvious references to the religious significance of the day in the background of the pictures.

[Marhosha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chick wants to hatch on Easter and he did it.

[Lisa Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is reviewed in NetGalley.

[Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A non-religious story about the timing of Easter so it can be used with any group of children. The 4 and 6 year olds loved it.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for this book which explains when Easter occurs

[Robin Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aight.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

In THE EASTER CHICK, Hilda's unborn chick does not want to be born until Easter so it can be and Easter chick. It asks Hilda to find out when Easter is. The story has wonderful and colorful illustrations that are delightful. After much work, patience, and waiting, Easter chick is born on Easter morning.

[Nativida · Rating 2 out of 5]

Explains how Easter Sunday falls on the calendar...first day of spring, next full moon, following Sunday (sometimes March, sometimes April).

[Alexandria K · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book a chick wants to hatch on Easter, but she has to wait until the next full moon. When Easter comes the chick hatches out of her egg. The pictures are cute and the story is adorable.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good book to describe why the date that Easter falls on changes each year. However, it was a pretty boring book

[Terisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good book to illustrate why easter is on a different day each year!

[Ana LibrariAna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilda has laid a beautiful egg, but weeks have passed and it hadn't hatched yet. Then, all of a sudden, she hears a voice coming from the inside of the egg. It is the chick asking when is Easter. The chick wants to be hatch on Easter so it can be an Easter chick. Hilda does not know, but is determined to find out. After some investigation, Hilda learns from the owl that 3 things need to happen before Easter:
1. Spring has to come (March 21 is the first day of Spring)
2. Next full moon
3.Next Sunday (Easter is always on the first Sunday after the full moon)