“The Easter Egg Farm”
By Mary Jane Auch.
Holiday House, New York, 1992, 32 pages, Grades K-2
Easter is the most important feast day in the church year. This is the day that Our Lord rose from the dead and overcame the breach caused by original sin. Because of this, Easter will always be primarily a religious holiday. However, it is also a time for festivities and family gatherings. Some of the most delightful recipes and dinners of the year come at Easter.
Another pleasant activity is the Easter egg hunt held at many homes and churches. Eggs have always been a symbol of life, and brightly colored Easter eggs add to the richness of the event. Mary Jane Auch writes an endearing account of Easter eggs in the witty picture book, “The Easter Egg Farm.”
Mrs. Pennywort has five hens on her farm. Four of the hens dutifully lay eggs each day, and Mrs. Pennywort eats several of the eggs for breakfast. The fifth hen, Pauline, doesn’t seem to be able to get with the program and start laying eggs. The other chickens make fun of poor Pauline, and Mrs. Pennywort decides to take action to stop the teasing – and to hopefully get Pauline to lay eggs.
Finally, after much effort, Pauline lays an egg. But it is not white. The egg is brown and almost looks like someone has tried to draw designs on the shell. Now the other four hens cackle in glee at Pauline’s ugly egg. But Pauline loves the egg and is glad that it is different. Mrs. Pennywort decides to move Pauline out of the henhouse to see if that will help her.
Well, it does change things. Now the new eggs look like the colors Pauline is seeing outdoors. Soon, there are blue eggs, striped eggs, colored eggs and more. A neighbor lady decides she wants to buy all the unusual eggs for the village’s annual Easter egg hunt. Mrs. Pennywort and Pauline are thrilled that the eggs have attracted so much interest and attention. Then, the day before Easter, something happens. What is it?
Is the Easter egg lady happy with Pauline’s eggs? Do the children in town want these unusual eggs? Do you like Easter eggs? What is your favorite color? Have you been on an Easter egg hunt? What does Mrs. Pennywort do in the face of these new complications? To find the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this humorous book, “The Easter Egg Farm” by Mary Jane Auch.
You and your family will take delight in this funny book. The misadventures of Pauline trying to lay eggs will keep you laughing.
The illustrations are witty and the drawings of Mrs. Pennywort are comical. For the secular side of Easter, you won’t find a funnier book. Younger children will love having “The Easter Egg Farm” read to them. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I have. May you and your family have a happy Easter.
