Illustrations copyright 2002 by Marsha Winborn
From Kirkus (12/2001):
Montes, Marisa. EGG-NAPPED! Illus. by Marsha Winborn. HarperCollins (32 pp.)
$15.95 PLB $15.89 Feb 2002 ISBN: 0-06-028950-3 PLB: 0-06-028952-1
Montes (Juan Bobo Goes to Work, 2000 etc.) takes a wild-goose chase literally in
this rousing, if at times slapdash, versified story. It begins with the
Gabblers and the entire woodland gang, celebrating the arrival of their first
egg. As they are kicking up their feet, the egg goes on an undetected roll.
(Their cry of "egg-nap!" could be disconcerting if young readers hadn't seen
the egg impart upon its journey.) Soon the egg is spied in the clutches of a
tortoise, who claims its ownership, but a sly flying squirrel sneaks it away.
But then she drops it and a hawk scoops it up ("This egg - is it goose? -
/ will taste great in a stew!"), only to meet the wrath of Mrs. Gabbler. There is
a close shave, but the egg is saved, and sure enough a little goosekins comes
cracking out. Montes's verse stumbles and falls flat on occasion - "Some ran
left, some ran right / others jumped all the while / But the animals crashed /
and collapsed in a pile" - though it generally clips along at a lively pace, and
by its nature the story enthralls. The animated goofiness of Winborn's
(Probably Pistachio, 2001, etc.) illustrations gives the right touch of
squawking energy to the tale,
too. (Picture book, 3-6)
From Publisher's Weekly (02/2002):
With gentle humor, Montes (Juan Bobo Goes to Work) addresses cooperation against adversaries, as a forest full of animals work together to rescue a runaway goose egg. Her sturdy verse follows the offspring-to-be of Mr. and Mrs. Gabbler as it rolls out of the nest and off on a wild ride. Nabbed by Doris the tortoise, rescued by Kit the flying squirrel and recaptured by a jeering Hector the Hawk, the egg is dislodged by a kick from Mrs. Gabbler and caught in midair by the intrepid Kit. " `We saved Gabbler's Egg!'/ feisty Kit led the cheer./ `We worked as a team/ and we saved someone dear!' " Winborn's (A Valentine for Norman Noggs) watercolor spreads combine the dynamism and expressiveness of animation with the softness of a blossoming spring backdrop. While the Gabblers' method of conflict resolution may not be preferred by some adults (it involves a lot of yelling and one well-placed boot in the rear), children will cheer on the antics of the forest dwellers and chuckle at Winborn's cartoon-bubble asides ("Adieu!" says Hector Hawk poetically as he flies off with the egg). Ages 3-7.
From ALA Booklist (02/2002):
Ages 3-6. Mr. and Mrs. Gabbler Goose were so pleased and proud when their first egg arrived that they invited all their animal friends to join them in celebration. Everyone was so busy enjoying the party that nobody notices when the egg rolled down the hill. When Mrs. Gabbler makes the horrible discovery, she proclaims an egg napping! Naturally, all the animals spring into action to recover the precious egg. After a rollicking adventure of hits and misses, Egg lands in the softly feathered wings of its own dad. The story rolls to a happy ending with a second celebration -- Egg's coming-out party. Winborn's colorful, comical watercolor illustrations do a great job of expressing the joy-to-horror and back-to-joy mood swings experienced by the Gabblers and their concerned friends throughout the ordeal. The lively rhyming text is great fun to read aloud, making this a great choice for a spring storytime -- Lauren Peterson.
From School Library Journal (03/2002):
PreS-Gr2 -- Montes takes children on an amusing romp in rhyme through the great outdoors, as woodland animals of all sorts scamper around trying to find Gabbler the Goose's egg, which has disappeared from its nest. After several misadventures, the creatures regroup and, by working together, rescue the egg. "Soon...CRUNCH! / Crack! from the Egg / popped two legs and a rear. / 'Count our blessings!' cried Gabbler. / 'Our Baby is here!'". Against a predominantly light-green background splashed with bright flowers, delightfully humorous watercolor illustrations document the antics, portraying the comical consternation of the various animals with panache. The verses scan well and suit the nature of the story, making a sparkling read-aloud, Egg-citing. Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
From the Worcester, MA Sunday Telegram, March 10, 2002
32 pages, ages 3 to 7. An about-to-be-hatched egg with a mind of its own leads the Gabblers on what has to be the zaniest wild goose chase ever concocted, toddling off will-nilly through the forest and getting every manner of animal roused up to action. First a bi-spectacled Tortoise named Doris naturally lays claim to the roving oddity, then a wily hawk named Hank yanks it from an uncertain fate after it falls off an embankment into the sky. Just in the nick of time -- that outer shell won't wait forever -- a team approach to problem solving secures the prize, a good lesson for everyone. A nutty story, with just enough adventure to keep everyone involved, illustrated with a slick sense of humor.
From the Tampa, FL Tribune & Times, March 24, 2002
Mr. and Mrs. Gabbler can't wait for their new egg to emerge, nor for their
baby gosling to be born. Unfortunately, a high-speed egg chase slips between one
event and the other when the egg rolls away, falls off a cliff and is rescued --
for the stew of archvillain Hector the Hawk. All turns out for the best,
however, and a suitable springtime party follows. Readers 3 to 6 should enjoy
the melodramatic cartoon illustrations and the lilting rhythm and rhyme in
addition to the funny story itself.