Two Speckled Eggs

Written by Jennifer K. Mann

Narrated by Michele Medlin

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?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490635668

Reviews for Two Speckled Eggs

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sweet, relatable friendship story.

[kwolinski-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Two Speckled Eggs is a cute little book about standing out. Ginger is having a birthday party and invites the weird girl Lyla Browning. Lyla is early to the party, disrupts the games, and brings a handmade gifts that Ginger thinks is strange at first. After looking at the gift, Ginger then realizes that standing out isn't all that bad. The illustrations in this book are very child like. They really show the expressions of of the girls faces. Ginger goes from not liking Lyla to starting to hang out with her.

[epoche-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ginger was having a birthday party and her mom made her invite everyone in her class, even Lyla Browning. No one liked Lyla because she was weird, didn't talk much and smelt like old leaves. All of Ginger's friends changed the rules to all the party games. Ginger was upset because all the games were ruined and none of girls liked her cake. Lyla was the only one who ate the cake and didn't run off and play without her. Ginger opened presents; Lyla got her a nest with two malted eggs. Ginger learns her and Lyla have something in common, they both love chocolate eggs. This story teaches children a lesson: do not judge others. I would recommend this book to any student feeling left out. This book is appropriate for students in grades K-3.

[pataustin_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ginger doesn't want to invite Lyla Browning to her birthday party: she's ... different. But Ginger's mom said she invited all the girls or none. Lyla is a curious soul and deep thinker and ultimately that rubs off on Ginger who finds it's not so bad to be different. While an oh-so-familiar theme, the treatment of the theme has a freshness here - and charming cartoon-like illustrations. A good class discussion book to address exclusion.

[shelf3employed · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There's always the child that no one wants to invite to his/her birthday party. When Ginger's mom insists that she invite *all* or *none* of her classmates, the peculiar Lyla Browning gets an invitation to the party. Quirky and funny, it turns out that Lyla is more fun than all of the other girls! Without a hint of didacticism, author and illustrator, Jennifer K. Mann makes her point in a way that is charming and funny. I love it.