I Hatched!

by Jill Esbaum, Jen Corace (Illustrator)

From the illustrator of Little Pea comes a gleeful, goofy, gorgeous celebration of being new, curious, and ready to take on the world--perfect for fans of Duck and Goose

A baby chick bursts from his egg and into the world with hilarious enthusiasm, awe, and I-can't-help-myself energy, capturing babies' delight in new discovery and parents' joy in this amazing new person. Rompy, rhyming text evokes the zeal of a toddler who's eager for everything. And Jen Corace's gorgeous artwork is alive with critters and curiosities and surprises--the biggest of which? The hatching of a new baby sister, to the absolute delight of her now "expert" big brother!

Breathless, breathtaking, and downright funny, this story is sure to find fans in new moms, toddlers, and big brothers and sisters too.

Genres: Picture Books, Birds, Storytime, Animals, Childrens, Nature, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 23, 2014

About the author

Jill Esbaum is a full-time writer and author of I am Cow, Hear Me Moo!, I Hatched!, Stanza, and Tom’s Tweet, among many others. She lives on a farm with her husband and children in Dixon, IA.

Reviews

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exuberant chick hatches from an egg and merrily dashes through his first day in this spring picture book. The chick quickly discovers that it has long legs and can really run. While running, he discovers a frog, water, worms and many other things in his environment. He learns to sing as well as poop as his day continues. In the evening after returning to the nest, he gets a surprise when another egg cracks open. Now he can be the expert and show his new sister everything! Maybe.

This book is pure bottled joy. The little chick is wildly positive and vivacious. He captures the delight of babies in their world and invites readers to see things with fresh eyes as well. Esbaum makes it clear that he is a killdeer with his long legs, his song and the way he acts. It’s a pleasure to see a book about a bird in a nest on the ground, running fast that is not about learning to fly but more about being an individual and safely learning new things.

Corace’s illustrations reflect the same cheery delight. They celebrate the little bird’s markings, the challenge of hatching from an egg, and happily show all that he explores in his first day. They have a lightness and humor about them too.

Toddlers will enjoy this book that mirrors their own enthusiasm. Perfect for spring story times with little ones. Appropriate for ages 1-3.

[Inma]

This is one of our brand new books. A fast rapid moving story of a killdeer chick- which are native to the United States, Canada, and Mexico and interestingly can’t fly until they are about a month old, so they expend that first month running around exploring their new world. We meet our killdeer chick on page two when he makes a grand entrance “Ta-Da! Hello, what’s new? ME”. I loved the fast pace and the selective placement of the text within the killdeer chick’s environment. The watercolors, pencil, and ink carry shades of greens and dark purples with bright yellow flowers and butterflies.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book features rhyming text that details the hatching and first day of a baby bird. The ink/watercolor/pencil illustrations steal the show as the young bird discovers running, singing, and eating amongst other things. The book ends with another hatching and the baby bird says hello to a sister. The rhyming text and large scale illustrations makes this book perfect for sharing with a group.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable narrative nonfiction book of a killdeer chick's first day out of an egg as told by the chick. Cute pictures and a cute, simple rhyme works quite well here.

[Bailey Geise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esbaum, J., & Corace, J. (2014). I Hatched! New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

A little bird hatched from his egg and begins to explore the words around him. He discovers his long legs and how he can run. He sees his reflections and discovers how amazing he looks. He finds his voice and realizes he can sing. Upon returning home to his nest after a long day of discovery, he see that his new sister has hatched. Luckily, he can teach her everything.

Activity: Have students make a list of all the qualities that they like about themselves or things that they are good at. Post it on their desk or around the room so they can look at it as a reminded when needed.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

After each page, I was hoping Esbaum would take advantage of this fun idea. The only part of this book I truly enjoyed was the end when his sister hatched. I gave it a three because the kids do not protest when I pull it out to read to them after a few nights in a row.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A baby bird hatches out of its egg and begins exploring. This is such a sweet story of a little bird discovering it loves to run and when his baby sister hatches, he - now knowing everything, is excited to start teaching her. As the story unfolds, the reader realizes what type of bird he is. So cute with wonderful illustrations.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to myself, but this would be so much fun to read to children out loud. I feel like children would love the sounds and the rhyming. I love the rhyming throughout the story and I bet if I read it out loud I would hear it even more. The illustrations are really cute and colorful too.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet preschool book about an exuberant chick discovering his new awkward legs and beak.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful look at the day in the life of a newly hatched killdeer chick.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A baby chick is born, and spends his first day of life learning all there is to know, at the end of his first day, when he returns back to the nest, he finds a welcomed surprise.

[Syntha Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be great for storytime for older kids, but too long for my 2yos.

[The Transmuted Tree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Red 4th

[wildct2003 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story

[Last Ranger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome To The World.

For all of us, young and old alike, viewing the birth of a baby animal or bird is a moving experience. It seems to be quite traumatic for the one being born too. In this charming little book author Jill Esbaum gives her young reader a "birds eye view" of the event. Prefect for pre schoolers and first graders I Hatched tells, in his own words, the story of one such hatchling, a new born Killdeer. Starting out inside the egg we follow our little hero as he explores himself and the world around him. Told in short rhyming verses we learn what legs are for and how much fun it is to run. We also learn about reflections ("Hey, it's me!"), other animals and the big wide world around us. Baby finds a few mysteries too: like those strange flappy things--what are they for? There's also a kind of bird sing along that your little-one can join in on. This would be a fun read with a class or at home, Mom and Pop should enjoy it too. Jen Corace's wonderful illustrations help the young reader to visualize Baby Killdeer's many friends and what it's like to really Zip along ("Bet my little legs are blurry!"). One touching scene shows Baby cuddled up under Mom and finding an unexpected surprise waiting for him in the nest. Another humorous entry is Baby discovering his bodily functions. All in all this book is a treasure and one that most children and some adults will find appealing.

Last Ranger

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the illustrator of Little Pea comes a gleeful, goofy, gorgeous celebration of being new, curious, and ready to take on the world--perfect for fans of Duck and Goose

A baby chick bursts from his egg and into the world with hilarious enthusiasm, awe, and I-can't-help-myself energy, capturing babies' delight in new discovery and parents' joy in this amazing new person. Rompy, rhyming text evokes the zeal of a toddler who's eager for everything. And Jen Corace's gorgeous artwork is alive with critters and curiosities and surprises--the biggest of which? The hatching of a new baby sister, to the absolute delight of her now "expert" big brother! Amazon
Library Use: Science: life cycles, predictions...what will happen next?
Pub: 2014

[Romelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet rhyming picture book about a newly hatched baby chick discovering life for the first time. The fast pace text and bouncy rhyme reflect the energy and enthusiasm of the chick. This is a great example of informative fiction because it is full of information about the killdeer bird. The story has a day-in-a-life story arc, but the little chick's adventure carries it through and finishes with a surprise ending.

[Cemeread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute and realistic baby Killdeer! The illustrations are colorful with plenty of white space to keep the pages from being too busy. The text and pictures combined are precious without being sugary. The rhyming is so smooth it might not be noticed on the first read through. Children will learn what a killdeer looks and sounds like, what it eats, and where it nests. This is my first favorite book of 2014!

Use with non-fiction

[Margaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ink, watercolor, and pencil illustrations tell the story of a killdeer chick who has just hatched. Sweet vignettes tell of how the chick is discovering his various parts (feathers, beak, legs, eyes) and the aspects about himself that make him unique. There is a paragraph on the copyright page that details information on where killdeers are found and a bit on their physiology (for those parents who wish to be better informed on their animal books). Overall, a very sweet story.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bird-loving second grade teacher in my school will love this! And I can imagine her using it as an anchor text to have students choose a bird (or animal) to study and write a book about!
Each page carries a different portrayal of the bird's explorations, some are two page spreads, others have small close ups of the bird's face.
Rhyming text builds the pace of the hurry-scurry of the bird as he darts and races to and fro, just a killdeer would.

[Arminzerella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A killdeer chick hatches and starts exploring the world. Everything is new and he is full of curiosity about himself and all of the things he encounters as he races around on his gangly legs at full speed. Fun, rhyming text, and adorable illustrations capture the essence of these busy birds. Young readers/listeners will likely have similar energy and enthusiasm for the world around them and will find it easy to relate to this story.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

To say that this was an exuberant story about a newly hatched bird discovering himself and the world around him would be an understatement. This is one excited chick! The only thing missing from the narrative was the bird doing the "Squirrel!" schtick from the movie Up. It's a fun book that would probably be even more fun to read out loud.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

My five-year-old son picked this book out from the library last week.

This text was fine, and the illustrations were good, but this book could have been so much better. It dragged a bit in the middle when it really needed to pick up the pace. It was about at that point that my son lost interest. An excellent editor could have made this an excellent book.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered this author after reading a post she wrote today about trying to get your story down and have it the best you can do. This story about a bird hatching and what he does to discover his world is great. The vocabulary is fun and he is one excited killdeer. Lots of fun to read now or in the spring with all the hatchlings coming out.

[Rosalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very imaginative story about a baby killdear after it hatches from it's egg! The funny little bird with awkward long legs runs everywhere discovering its new surroundings. This would be a fun book to add to a bird or egg themed story time.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age: Preschool-1st grade
Animals: Kildeer bird

A bird pops out of its shell and discovers the world around it. The unusual species is a refreshing take on a common topic. I like when the baby bird discovers itself in the reflection of the lake, much like a baby's fascination with mirrors.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great interactive book for ECE level readers. It is very entertaining, rhymes, and gives the children an opportunity to participate with the story. The illustrations are fun and the text is funny, as well.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

A baby bird hatches out of its egg. "Ta-da!" It spends the day discovering new things, until it's mother calls it back to the nest. Where it has a big surprise... 4/22/14

Used for Story Time and it went over okay. Some of the young ones got a little antsy.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about self-discovery. A newly hatched chick goes through it's first day of life finding out all the things it can do. Kids will love when it poops and then takes a look at it's bottom and discovers it's orange!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the enthusiastic, curious narrative of a new chick. Unique and beautiful illustrations and so fun to read to my daughter, who herself loves to pretend she's a chick. This book really suites her interests and personality and I love reading it cause it's fun and it rhymes.