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Pablo
Shhh! Pablo is asleep. This is his last night inside the shell. Tomorrow he'll come out. But he's a little shy so will start with just very small hole. Tap tap!
With the little chick Pablo, we discover up and down, forward and back, shapes, the noises and smells of the outside, and take a first flight. It's not scary at all! Especially not if you keep a little piece of home with you, in case you need it later. A fresh and funny story about stepping out on your own into a bright new world.
With the little chick Pablo, we discover up and down, forward and back, shapes, the noises and smells of the outside, and take a first flight. It's not scary at all! Especially not if you keep a little piece of home with you, in case you need it later. A fresh and funny story about stepping out on your own into a bright new world.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 30, 2019
2 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 18, 2021
Pablo is a shy little chick who is too big for his eggshell. He's not quite ready to face the outside world, so he pecks one little hole in his shell to look around first. But one little hole leads to another little hole and another and another!
I loved this cute book! It's so adorable how Pablo pecks little holes for his eyes, and then another for his ears, and his nose. As he discovers sight and sound and smells, the reader learns along with him about some of the different senses.
The illustrations are very minimalist with simple black and white art, until the last page when we get to see Pablo's fluffy yellow feathers. I love the art style! I think it's very effective.
The cover of this book is thick like a board book, but the pages are glossy paper.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
I loved this cute book! It's so adorable how Pablo pecks little holes for his eyes, and then another for his ears, and his nose. As he discovers sight and sound and smells, the reader learns along with him about some of the different senses.
The illustrations are very minimalist with simple black and white art, until the last page when we get to see Pablo's fluffy yellow feathers. I love the art style! I think it's very effective.
The cover of this book is thick like a board book, but the pages are glossy paper.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
June 12, 2021
The line that got me was [the morning before hatching]: “Pablo had a small croissant and a hot chocolate for breakfast. Then he was ready to come out” 😂
Adorable and quirky read for 3+
Adorable and quirky read for 3+
May 8, 2021
Highly stylized, this picture book focuses on Pablo, a baby bird who is ready to leave the egg. But Pablo is going to do it in his own unique way. After a breakfast of croissant and hot chocolate, he gathers his strength. He is too big for his egg now, so he must break out. First, he creates one hole, just the right size for his eye. He looks all around and then creates a second eye hole so he can really see out. He pecks two holes, one on each side of the shell so that he can hear what is happening around him. Then one hole for his beak so he can smell soil and flowers. The sixth and seventh holes are for his legs so he can wander. Then holes eight and nine are just right for his wings to come out. Pablo is entirely free of the shell, but he saves a piece just in case.
Visually arresting, this Belgian picture book features a pure black egg on a white background. Subtle shading and clouds move past, but the focus and each page center around Pablo himself as he steadily frees himself from the egg shell. The book steadily counts the number of holes that Pablo makes and is marvelously absurd has he continues far longer than most readers might think, staying in the shell and creating holes.
The art is simple and very funny. Perhaps most delightful is the final reveal of Pablo freed from the black egg, looking nothing like what one might have expected.
For the toddler, preschooler or parent who appreciates a bit of the surreal. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
Visually arresting, this Belgian picture book features a pure black egg on a white background. Subtle shading and clouds move past, but the focus and each page center around Pablo himself as he steadily frees himself from the egg shell. The book steadily counts the number of holes that Pablo makes and is marvelously absurd has he continues far longer than most readers might think, staying in the shell and creating holes.
The art is simple and very funny. Perhaps most delightful is the final reveal of Pablo freed from the black egg, looking nothing like what one might have expected.
For the toddler, preschooler or parent who appreciates a bit of the surreal. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
January 19, 2021
Deceptively simple but essentially a clever concept, this board book teaches various concepts such as up, down, right, left while also following the hatching of an egg. Originally published in New Zealand, the book follows Pablo, portrayed as a restive black egg, as he takes small steps to come out of his egg. As would be the case for anyone, he's a bit anxious about venturing forth so he starts with just a very small hole and then another and another. Youngsters will be just as delighted as I was as Pablo stretches out one leg, two legs, and then his wings as he chips away at that shell. When he emerges in all his yellow downy glory, he chooses to hold onto part of his shell since it just might come in handy in the future. The way the egg shell falls away to reveal parts of Pablo is visually effective, and the illustrator also insures that readers' eyes aren't bored by including black lines as a base for the egg as well as tiny drawings along the top of the pages to represent the world that Pablo is preparing to enter. The opening idea of an egg needing to sup on hot chocolate and devour a croissant before beginning this hard work of "becoming" is absurd but also delightful in its own way.
February 17, 2021
See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...
PABLO is a simple but cute story about a chick that is not ready to hatch. It is time for Pablo to come out of his shell, but he is not sure if he wants to. He decides to peck two holes for his eyes to look around. He wants more, so he pecks more holes for his ears to hear. This continues until finally, he pecks all the way through and joins the exciting world.
What I loved: This was a simple story that includes some learning basics, as it counts upwards on the holes, senses (vision, hearing, smell), and includes directions (left, right, up, and down) as Pablo checks out the world. The simple illustrations and descriptive text help to bring Pablo and his experiences to life. The book will definitely appeal to young children who are also experiencing the world around them with or without caution. This would work for infants through early elementary aged readers, who can all enjoy the simple story.
Final verdict: Pablo is a charming and fun read about experiencing new things, with some fun counting, sensory, and directional details. Recommend for a broad range of ages from infants through early elementary school readers.
Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
PABLO is a simple but cute story about a chick that is not ready to hatch. It is time for Pablo to come out of his shell, but he is not sure if he wants to. He decides to peck two holes for his eyes to look around. He wants more, so he pecks more holes for his ears to hear. This continues until finally, he pecks all the way through and joins the exciting world.
What I loved: This was a simple story that includes some learning basics, as it counts upwards on the holes, senses (vision, hearing, smell), and includes directions (left, right, up, and down) as Pablo checks out the world. The simple illustrations and descriptive text help to bring Pablo and his experiences to life. The book will definitely appeal to young children who are also experiencing the world around them with or without caution. This would work for infants through early elementary aged readers, who can all enjoy the simple story.
Final verdict: Pablo is a charming and fun read about experiencing new things, with some fun counting, sensory, and directional details. Recommend for a broad range of ages from infants through early elementary school readers.
Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
March 28, 2021
Pablo is an egg, and chances are he’s French. He has a small croissant and hot chocolate for breakfast as he gathers the strength to break out of his shell. First his eyes, then ears, a beak, legs and wings, and he is ready to take off. Throughout Pablo’s exit from his shell, the art is in black and white, but on the last page he becomes a yellow chick holding a piece of his black shell as an umbrella. Bold, simple, stylized art plays with perception, as the crisp black and white Pablo as an egg, yields a soft, fuzzy yellow Pablo as a hatched chick. I like also how the senses come in to play as he hatches – there are onomatopoeia for the first sounds he hears. A clever book.
September 22, 2021
The illustrations in this book are striking black and white until the last page, which makes the ending a delight of colour.
Evie said: Pablo is in a shell and he wants to get out. It’s an ok book but I got to the end and thought “huh?” and that’s not how books are meant to end.
I see her point, there is a conflict between the expectations created by the black and white imagery and the use of colour in the end, but it’s a cute and inoffensive story.
Evie said: Pablo is in a shell and he wants to get out. It’s an ok book but I got to the end and thought “huh?” and that’s not how books are meant to end.
I see her point, there is a conflict between the expectations created by the black and white imagery and the use of colour in the end, but it’s a cute and inoffensive story.
July 8, 2021
Simple and cute--a bird emerges from its egg a bit at a time. The text and illustrations are basic and easy to follow.
Compare with actual hatching of chicken eggs as is done each year in 1st grade--fantasy vs fiction.
Compare with actual hatching of chicken eggs as is done each year in 1st grade--fantasy vs fiction.
March 17, 2020
Voici un petit bijou de simplicité et d'ingéniosité ! Un livre à compter qui fait découvrir les 5 sens, drôle et tendre.
Une pépite ! Parfaite pour Pâques avec son oeuf !
Une pépite ! Parfaite pour Pâques avec son oeuf !
February 17, 2021
Shy little Pablo takes his time pecking out of his shell (and it's awfully cute while it happens).
March 29, 2021
A shy, cautious chick takes his time hatching from his shell. A clever little story not as simple as it appears. Originally published in France.
June 17, 2021
cute book!
July 7, 2021
This a was a beautiful and creative, engaging story that would be perfect for preschool. I only wish it was a little bigger so I could more easily read it to a group.
July 14, 2021
Good, weird fun with a bird and its shell.
July 26, 2021
Sheer delight, with a charm and simplicity that will entrance any age. So much to imagine and learn from, such a compelling pacing of curiosity, courage, and creativity, in so few words and pages.
July 26, 2021
Pablo comes out into the world one peck at a time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2021
Cute little black and white book (mostly) with an actual story! Yay!
September 2, 2021
A very cute story about a little chick who is getting himself ready to get out of his shell (but maybe after another croissant and hot chocolate!)
September 13, 2021
Deklan loves this book! So cute :)
Read
October 27, 2021sweet
December 31, 2021
short and cute
May 14, 2022
This book is good for kids and learn about the new live
August 10, 2023
Pablo is afraid to get out in the world and is taking things slowly.
Sweet.
Sweet.
August 12, 2023
It's very simple, very cute.
Read
July 24, 2025Turn/Level: 1/3
Uses ordering language instead of just numbers for counting, chickens
Uses ordering language instead of just numbers for counting, chickens
November 26, 2025
what I hope for in every children's picture book I pick up
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews