The Easter Egg Book

Hoppi the bunny is determined to make the best Easter Egg this year, in the hopes of being chosen to accompany the Easter Bunny on his annual pilgrimage to hide eggs for the children of the world. As he makes his way through Rabbit Town, he encounters many other rabbits working on their own ovate creations. From Aunt Sassyfrass, who is crafting a delicious and decorative chocolate egg, to Hans Vanderabbit, who has painted a beautiful portrait of the Easter Bunny on his egg, every rabbit appears to have created a small masterpiece. Wandering into the nearby woods, where he stops to rest and think, Hoppi eventually comes to the realization that while he might not create the best egg ever, he must do the best he can. No sooner does he make this resolution, than he is confronted with a small tragedy: a pretty blue egg has fallen from a robin's nest. Abandoning his plans, Hoppi comes to the rescue, keeping the little egg warm until it is time to hatch. Has he lost all chance of being recognized by the Easter Bunny, or will his egg surprise everyone...?

An immensely sweet little tale, one which pairs a heart-warming narrative that feels rather reminiscent of Dr. Seuss's Horton Hatches the Egg , and beautifully detailed artwork, The Easter Egg is a wonderful holiday picture-book, one which takes a fun holiday tradition and adds a little moral depth. I appreciated the message, implicit in Brett's story, that our acts of kindness, and the good things they accomplish in the world, are our best creation - far more important and more beautiful than the greatest work of art. That said, there is no shortage of beautiful art here, and Brett delivers her usual rich array of intricately detailed animal scenes. She utilizes a variety of breeds of rabbit in her depiction of the residents of Rabbit Town, emphasizing the diversity of types found in the lapine world, and costumes her characters in lovely and diverse clothing styles. As always with her books, the side panels in her artwork add to the rich visual feast she has to offer, and enhance the feeling of looking into a fully realized world. Recommended to anyone looking for good picture-books featuring Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny.