Chick’s Works of Art

A story about painting eggs that doesn’t involve Easter? It’s true. In fact, Robberecht’s story is about a great many things, perhaps too many: conformity versus artistic freedom, destitution versus wealth, creating art versus creating a family. Opening in a surprisingly cheery factory where hens lay eggs directly onto conveyor belts, the story finds Chick “bored to tears” of making plain, white, oval eggs. She starts experimenting with unconventional eggs: misshapen, colorfully decorated designs that eventually get her fired. Chick ends up selling her unique eggs on the street, but she soon finds a wealthy goose patron, resulting in a gallery show and a mansion for the artist herself. It’s tricky to make a hen an artist who uses her own eggs (and potential offspring) as a medium; it might not be a problem except for the final scene, which reveals Chick’s “newest and best creations”—more than a dozen baby chicks. While children won’t miss the message about following one’s passions, they may also wonder about all the eggs Chick has given away or sold in the preceding pages. Ages 3–5. (Mar.)