Humphrey the Egg-Splorer

by Nadia Ali, Valentí Gubianas (Illustrator)

Overview

A rollicking story that expands the famous tale of a fragile egg to a new story about bravery, creativity, and forging your own path.

Eggs are fragile and bought specifically to be cracked. . . but what if they don't want to be cracked and have their own ambitions and goals for life like becoming a great egg-splorer? Humphrey has long known the cautionary tale of his grandfather, Humpty Dumpty. Being an egg means he can easily slip and crack at any time . . . but what does that mean for his dreams of becoming an egg-splorer and going on grand adventures? But Humphrey is determined, and he’ll do whatever it takes to become a brave adventurer—even if that means putting himself through the fieriest trials to get there. Inspired by the beloved nursery rhyme, author Nadia Ali and artist Valentí Gubianas deliver a rollicking story that expands the famous tale of a fragile egg to a new story about bravery, creativity, and forging your own path.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781953458575
Publisher:	Yeehoo Press
Publication date:	04/04/2023
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.60(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD560L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Nadia Ali is a children's book author. She writes fiction and nonfiction picture books. Her stories range from funny to fanciful to factual. She has always had a love for books and hopes that her stories inspire future generations of book lovers. She was born in London, UK and currently resides in the Caribbean where she happily swapped out London's grey skies for clear blue skies. She lives with her husband and has two married daughters. When she is not writing she can be found in the kitchen whipping up a super sweet dessert.


Valentí Gubianas was born in Navàs, Catalonia. He studied at the Massana School in Barcelona and it was there where he discovered the art of illustrating stories. He published his first book in 1995, written by Elena O'Callaghan. He has illustrated books for many publishers, both children's and young adult literature and textbooks. When he started needing more and more space to draw, he began working on murals in schools, libraries, and live shows. He combines the illustration of books and mural painting with visits to schools, where he learns a lot from his direct contact with readers. So far,He has worked with most of Spain's publishers ,such as Penguin Random House Spain, Planeta Group, SM Group and also several others from around the world.

Editorial Reviews

03/13/2023

Who’s afraid of cracking his shell? A grandson of Humpty Dumpty, that’s who. Humphrey Dumpty, a standout dreamer in his dozen, has high egg-spectations of living up to his grandfather’s boldness. Though he longs to venture outside the kitchen, his anxiety around gaining strength enough to survive a great fall is holding him back. He tries an extreme training regimen—including “swishing swords with the Samurai Spoon” and taking on heat and cold—with unsatisfactory results, finally settling into a warm stove bath (“somewhere quiet I can think”), and emerging with a new, hard-boiled confidence. Ali’s upbeat story blends humor, determination, and uncertainty into a can-do tale about getting started. The kitchen friends in Gubianas’s artwork sport rosy cheeks and sunny expressions, and secondary human characters are rendered with fantastical skin tones. A final image of Humphrey donning hiking pants, a protective hat, and a hefty backpack is a memorable one. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"Ready for adventure? Egg-cellent!" –Kirkus Reviews

"Ali’s upbeat story blends humor, determination, and uncertainty into a can-do tale about getting started." –Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2022-11-29
Ready for adventure? Egg-cellent!

Returning from a shopping trip, a tan-skinned family of four brings home Humphrey Dumpty, an egg whose “greatest dream is to become an egg-splorer, just like my grandfather,” the legendary Humpty Dumpty. But Humphrey is fragile and well aware of that fact, despite attempts to toughen up by sword fighting with a spoon and testing their mettle by spending time in the freezer. Sadly, neither exercise proves fruitful. When Humphrey tries to find a quiet space to think of a new plan, their wanderings lead them to a bath—one that most readers will identify as a pot of water on the stove. Soaking for a bit, Humphrey emerges triumphant—as a hard-boiled egg! With this new, slightly stronger form (as the other eggs note, “You are still easy to crack. So please be careful”), Humphrey can finally set out to explore…just as the book ends. Readers may be frustrated with the meandering plot that comes to a stop just as the real action seems ready to begin. The loose, colorful illustrations, reminiscent of Chris Raschka’s art, try to lift the plot but can only do so much. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Appealing visuals can’t make up for a less than egg-citing storyline. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews