Guess What is Growing Inside

Mia Posada’s illustrations fascinate me in her book, Guess What is Growing Inside This Egg.  I am drawn to the two-page layout of a zoomed egg.  Using a rhyming riddle, nonfiction information is shared with the reader.  A repeating question follows each riddle,

“Can you guess what is growing inside these eggs?”

On the next page layout, the answer is given in big bold words with an adorable baby standing by.  Mia Posada then writes a paragraph of extending facts regarding the baby animal.  She explains the science of incubation.  One of the featured animals is a duck.  Four stages of a duckling gives the reader an inner view of how the yolk begins and develops.  The other featured creatures are as follows:  penguin, octopus, sea turtle, alligator, and spider.

Her illustrations are textured.  I’m not sure what paper consistency she uses, but my fingers are drawn like a magnet to touch the page.  The scene is almost 3D like.  I think children will just want to read and reread this book.

Savorings for reading and in writing for Guess What is Growing Inside:

• Background knowledge – incubation
• Settings – where each creature begins life
• Question/Answer Structure
• Poetic Riddle –  to capture children’s attention
• Math & Science connection – comparison of egg sizes