Hunwick's Egg

Fox, Mem. 2005. Hunwick’s Egg. Illustrated by Pamela Lofts. San Diego, California: Harcourt, 2005. ISBN 0-15-216318-2.

Hunwick is a rabbit-eared bandicoot. He inhabits a desert landscape with other native Australian animals like the emu and the echidna. But he’s apparently a little lonely, because when a storm turns up a beautiful egg, he takes it home, cares for it, and waits for it to hatch. All the other animals worry about what will happen next. Fortunately, Hunwick loves his egg just the way it is.

As far as the plot goes, this story could take place anywhere, with different animals taking the roles. (In fact, Tad Hills’ Duck and Goose is similar.) What makes the story a fun introduction to another country for American students is the beautiful artwork by Lofts, depicting Australian flora and fauna and landscapes. Although the animals are anthropomorphized a little, anyone who saw Lofts’ watercolors would easily be able to recognize the real creatures they correspond to. (Certainly Hunwick bears little resemblance to the bright orange Crash Bandicoot of videogame fame, the only other fictional bandicoot the audience is likely to be familiar with!)

I didn’t think Fox’s story was outstanding in itself. The ending made me think of the old adage “Show, don’t tell”: I wanted to see Hunwick figuring out that his “egg” wasn’t going to hatch instead of just being told that he had. Still, the illustrations lift this book above the typical and make it fun and worthwhile.

In School Library Journal, Linda Walkins says, “This slightly offbeat story with a universal message about the power of friendship is accompanied by glowing watercolor pencil illustrations in orange, pink, and violet tones that showcase the flora and fauna of the Australian landscape, adding an interesting element to this charming title.”

I would display this book with Caroline Arnold’s Australian Animals so that people who enjoyed the story could find out more about the real animals that populate it.

Walkins, Linda. School Library Journal. Qtd. In Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/Hunwicks-Egg-Mem-Fox/dp/0152163182/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-8764502-2619128?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181252122&sr=1-1.