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Title details for Two Speckled Eggs by Jennifer K. Mann - Available

Two Speckled Eggs

by Jennifer K. Mann
Michele Medlin
Audiobook
3 of 3 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
3 of 3 copies available
A birthday party sets the scene in this sweet and relatable story for anyone who's ever been the odd girl out. It's Ginger's birthday, and she has to invite all the girls in her class to her party, including Lyla Browning. Lyla isn't like the other girls: she smells like old leaves, doesn't talk much, and once brought a tarantula to school for show-and-tell. On the day of the party, Lyla is much earlier than everyone else. But even after the others arrive, Ginger's party doesn't go quite the way she'd hoped: some of the girls change the rules to the games, and no one likes her silver and gold birthday cake — except Lyla. By the time Lyla gives Ginger her present — a tiny homemade nest with two delicious malted-milk eggs — Ginger begins to wonder: is being different really such a bad thing? Review Quotes: In a nod to geek pride, illustrator Mann, in her debut as an author, doesn't portray Lyla as a needy, sad wallflower—instead, Lyla is entirely self-assured and independent (though she's also open to making a new friend in Ginger). Mann understands well how peers can disappoint and parties can go wrong, and her scraggly-lined drawings, filled in with washes of soft color and set against white backgrounds, give a strong sense of Ginger's emotional vulnerability and the unanticipated possibilities offered by Lyla's friendship. —Publishers Weekly The nicely paced story creates a series of small moments that make Ginger's emotional shifts seem natural and inevitable. Created with pencil, gouache, and digital collage in a simple style, the expressive illustrations capture awkward, sad, tender, funny, and happy times with equal facility. ... A fine picture book for reading aloud. —Booklist Mann's pencil, gouache and digital collage illustrations keep the focus on the girls, their bright clothes and accessories standing out against the white background. ... Readers may not look at their classmates the same again. —Kirkus Reviews Penciled figures keep the facial expressions simple, while the gouache illustrations soften digital collage elements like the playground pavement, the tablecloth, and patterned couch, complementing the expected but sweet and satisfying story. —School Library Journal?

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    July 1, 2014

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781490635989
      • File size: 2386 KB
      • Duration: 00:04:58

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      January 27, 2014
      Ginger doesn’t want weird, nerdy Lyla Browning at her birthday party, but Mom insists she “invite all of the girls in her class—or none of them.” When her guests play fast and loose with her party plans (“Maya and Julia stuck all the tails for Pin the Tail on the Donkey on each other”), and the birthday cake is not a hit, Ginger realizes that Lyla may actually be kind of cool. Certainly, her present is: a handmade bird’s nest worthy of Martha Stewart, with two malted-milk eggs inside. In a nod to geek pride, illustrator Mann (Turkey Tot), in her debut as an author, doesn’t portray Lyla as a needy, sad wallflower—instead, Lyla is entirely self-assured and independent (though she’s also open to making a new friend in Ginger). Mann understands well how peers can disappoint and parties can go wrong, and her scraggly-lined drawings, filled in with washes of soft color and set against white backgrounds, give a strong sense of Ginger’s emotional vulnerability and the unanticipated possibilities offered by Lyla’s friendship. Ages 5–8. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties.

    • School Library Journal

      Starred review from October 1, 2014

      PreS-Gr 2-Ginger wants to have a birthday party, but her mother insists the guest list be all-inclusive, which means including weird Lyla Browning, who smells like old leaves. No party equals no presents, so Ginger relents. Not surprisingly, Lyla's gift is odd-two small candy eggs in a homemade bird's nest. Yet when Ginger's friends decide to play party games by their own rules (peeking during blindman's bluff, pinning the donkey's tail on one another) followed by mocking the birthday cake's unusual flavor-pineapple and coconut-Ginger begins to notice that Lyla really is different, in all the best ways. Solid narration is provided by Michele O. Medlin, who slides easily between snide comments from Ginger's friends to the sweetness of the two girls discovering genuine friendship. A second track with page-turning signals is included, making this a nice complement to the hardcover edition. This is a wonderful story on kindness, friendship, and the "gift" of individuality. A top pick.-Cheryl Preisendorfer, Twinsburg City Schools, OH

      Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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