About the Holiday
There’s nothing better than spending the time snuggled up with a new book. Kids love cuddling and sharing laughs, poignant moments, fascinating facts, and the changes life brings through books. If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Read A New Book Month, check out today’s sweet and surprising book for the youngest readers.
By Rascal | Translated by Antony Shugaar
Do you see Pablo? No? He’s in the egg, and he’s sleeping. “Ssshhhhh! (This is the last night he’ll be in his shell.)” In the morning Pablo gathers his strength with a “small croissant and a hot chocolate.” Pablo is a little nervous to meet the world, so at first he pecks out only a tiny eyehole. Then a second one! He looks all around him at what awaits.
He wants to learn more so he pecks two ear holes, first on one side and then on the other. He hears bees, birds, and the wind. These things make him think he’d like to smell the world too. He “pecks a fifth tiny hole for his beak. He discovers the smell of the soil and the perfume of the flowers.”
Pablo thinks “he’d like to wander around.” First one leg and then the other pop out. Pablo can’t wait to discover the world “on his own two feet.” But he doesn’t have to rely only on his feet. He pecks two more holes—his eighth and ninth—for his wings. Pablo is all set to conquer the world. Except, he’s still in his shell. He cracks it open and discards it. Well, the bottom half at least. The top, Pablo thinks, will make a perfect umbrella “for a rainy day.”
Charming from the first peck to the last, Rascal’s sweet story, translated in a voice that fully retains the surprise, wonder, and inclusive narration of the original, offers enchanting opportunities for little ones to interact with the book by guessing what comes next, counting the holes Pablo makes, and even adding their own ideas about what Pablo sees, hears, smells, and discovers with each new experience of the world around him. The thought of Pablo having breakfast in his shell before he makes his appearance instantly endears him to readers—who are also just making their entrance into the world of school or activities—and will spark giggles.
The striking black-and-white illustrations of Pablo sitting in place as the sun, birds, and dotted clouds pass by will captivate both babies and young readers. A second look at those ingenious clouds reveals that the sky above Pablo is home to various shapes and creatures—just as it is for them. Kids will love turning the book sideways and upside down to use their imaginations and discover what’s there. When adorable Pablo finally emerges from his shell, the pop of yellow is sure to bring “Awww!”s and requests to read the book again.
A smart, clever, and immersive story for little ones that adults will enjoy reading over and over, Pablo is highly recommended for home, preschool, school, and public library collections. The book would make a much-loved gift for baby showers, new babies, and any gift-giving occasion.
Read a New Book Month Activity
Hatch a Chick! Craft
Chicks are so cute and fluffy—you just wish you could have one of your very own! Now you can! Hatch your own chick with this craft.
- Cotton balls, or use large pom-poms
- Yellow chalk
- Orange paper
- Black paper
- Egg shell
- Paper grass
- Cardboard or poster board
- Cheese grater
- Green paint, marker, or crayon
To make the shell
- Crack an egg and save the two halves
- Soak the eggshells in soapy water or wash gently with soap
- Dry eggshell
To make the chick
- Use the cheese grater to grate the chalk into a bowl
- Roll the cotton balls in the chalk dust until they are covered
- Make the beak from the orange paper by folding the paper and cutting a small triangle
- Cut two small eyes from the black paper
- Glue the beak and eyes to one of the cotton balls
- Glue the head to the second cotton ball
- Set the chick into one of the eggshells, glue if desired
To make the stand
- Cut a 3-inch by 3-inch square from the cardboard or poster board
- If you wish, paint or color the square green
- Glue green paper grass to the square
- Glue the eggshell to the stand.
You can find Pablo at these booksellers
To support your local independent bookstore, order from
Picture Book Review