Am I Yours?

As cozy and safe as it is mannerly, with a patterned text well suited to storytime sharing with younger audiences. 

PreS-Gr 1--On a gusty day, a dinosaur egg is pushed out of its nest and into an open field. The egg then asks passing dinosaurs if it belongs to them; since the dinosaurs can't look directly inside the shell, they each ask questions to the egg to try to figure out what it will look like when it's hatched. The Corythosaurus, for example, asks if the egg has a crest like hers, the egg responds, "I have no crest (I just checked now) so I'm not yours. Thanks anyhow." The dinosaurs are later able to figure out who the egg belongs to, and get it safely back to its nest. Though seemingly simplistic, Latimer's rhyme scheme is wonderfully timed and plotted, giving a singsong cadence that is ideal for storytime. His illustrations are equally spot-on with bright colors and basic character design that give a gentle and caring feel; even the T. rex looks adorable and concerned about the egg's safety. VERDICT This inquisitive egg will be welcome in most collections. Sure to be a crowd-pleaser--highly recommended.--Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI