"'Isn't it beautiful?' asked Kack Kack."
"Bently didn't know. 'It's just an egg,' he thought."
However, Bently is nothing if not loyal, so when Kack Kack asks him to watch her egg while she goes to visit her sister, he grudgingly agrees. Lonely and bored, he decides to liven up the plain white egg by painting dazzling designs on it. The egg attracts the attention of a rowdy young boy and fortunately, its extraordinary decoration saves it from an immediate smashing. Unfortunately, the boy, believing the Easter Bunny left the egg, runs off with it. Bently Hopperton to the rescue:
"'Easter Bunny, my eye,' thought Bently. 'That's a Bently Hopperton egg!... Don't worry, egg. Armed only with my wits, I'll not fail you, egg,' he vowed bravely, and took off in pursuit."
What follows is a delightfully silly romp complete with a hot air balloon that just happens to be at hand when needed, and a toy boat moored close by for a convenient getaway. William Joyce's elegant paintings and hilariously deadpan text make this a book young readers will want to keep conveniently nearby for quick getaways anytime... but especially Easter time. Joyce has written many well-loved picture books, notably Rolie Polie Olie. (Ages 4 to 10) --Emilie Coulter