The Sheep Who Hatched an Egg

by Gemma Merino, Gemma Merino (Illustrator)

Overview

Lola is mortified when her once-pretty wool grows back ugly and tangled. But when a lost baby bird uses her head for a nest, Lola realizes she can be more than just a pretty sheep.

Lola is proud of her amazing wool. After all, everyone on the farm tells her how beautiful she looks. She spends hours brushing her wool to keep it shiny and silky. Until one day when the weather gets hot, and all the sheep have to get haircuts—including Lola! She's so upset without her wool that she runs away and hides by herself. And when her wool finally grows back, it's tangled, messy…HORRIBLE! But hiding in Lola’s wool is a wonderful surprise, one that will help her realize that she doesn't have to be pretty or perfect in order to be a friend…or to be extraordinary!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807573389
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	04/01/2017
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	566,057
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Gemma Merino is the award-winning author of several children's books, including The Cow Who Climbed a Tree. She spent the first half of her life in her hometown near Barcelona where she became an architect with very itchy feet. And after living and working in Dublin, Tel Aviv, and finally London, she discovered the fascinating world of picture books. She received her MA in children's book illustration at the Cambridge School of Art.

Gemma Merino is the award-winning author of several children's books, including The Cow Who Climbed a Tree. She spent the first half of her life in her hometown near Barcelona where she became an architect with very itchy feet. And after living and working in Dublin, Tel Aviv, and finally London, she discovered the fascinating world of picture books. She received her MA in children's book illustration at the Cambridge School of Art.

Editorial Reviews

"Kids will find plenty to enjoy in the artwork. A pleasing choice for reading aloud in the classroom, the library, or the home."—Booklist

"Using soft edges, watercolors, and simple, warm words, Gemma Merino shares the unlikely story of a sheep who lost her silky wool but gained happiness, self-confidence, and a beautiful new friendship."—Foreword Reviews


"A dandy tale of self-acceptance . . . Merino's airy style reflects the light message of the book: celebrate yourself and enjoy your imperfections."—Kirkus Reviews


"With aplomb, Lola shows that there are good hair days and bad hair days, but self-confidence comes from within. A fun seasonal read-aloud for storytime and one-on-one sharing. —School Library Journal


"Children will enjoy this heartwarming story with its clever artwork that helps illustrate the lesson that one doesn't have to be perfect to be accepted or loved."—School Library Connection

From the Publisher

04/01/2017
K-Gr 2—Lola is a chic sheep who grooms her wool into shiny, silky, untangled perfection. She receives admiring glances from the other animals as she sashays around the farmyard. When Lola's fleece is shorn in the spring, her sense of self is shattered. Feeling ridiculous without her lustrous locks, she decides to head to the far side of the hill and hide. Lola's wool grows back but in a wild, shaggy, messy manner. Gazing at her new hairdo, broken comb by her side, Lola wails, "It's HORRIBLE!" In her vexed state, she doesn't notice a small blue egg fall out of its nest and land snuggly on her thick woolly head. A brightly feathered chick hatches, and a sweet friendship is formed. The bird thinks Lola's unruly, curly mane is wonderful, and Merino's charming watercolor illustrations show tender scenes of Lola lovingly sheltering her little pal from the rain. Lola returns to the farm wiser, content in knowing that "she didn't look perfect, but it didn't matter." VERDICT With aplomb, Lola shows that there are good hair days and bad hair days, but self-confidence comes from within. A fun seasonal read-aloud for storytime and one-on-one sharing.—Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ont.

School Library Journal

2017-01-17
One vain sheep with a gorgeous head of hair plus an egg that needs a place to hatch equals a dandy tale of self-acceptance. Lola spends endless hours attending to her wool so it is never tangled. She struts her ovine stuff through the farmyard, where she enjoys the adoration of the other sheep. Imagine her shock when she is shorn in the spring! She is embarrassed without her wool and disappointed when it grows back wild, messy, and tangled! She is devastated. Her preoccupation keeps Lola from noticing when a small egg falls from a tree onto her new, matted tresses. When the egg hatches into a sweet chick, Lola gains a friend—one who loves Lola's ample, messy wool. Droll illustrations, in translucent greens and blues with relaxed lines barely holding in the color, are sure to bring a chuckle to young lap listeners. They will enjoy noticing that some of the earlier spreads are repeated later in the book, but with subtle changes. One repeated scene of Lola's living room shows the same dresser with a vase of red flowers, but this time the painting on the wall is not of Lola with a medal around her perfect neck but with her crazy hair lovingly holding her new friend. Merino's airy style reflects the light message of the book: celebrate yourself and enjoy your imperfections. (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews