Oology is the branch of ornithology that includes the study of eggs. While that field of study may seem prosaic, the simple form of an egg hides incredible biological and cultural complexity. Award-winning German author and illustrator Teckentrup (Bee, 2016) explains fascinating facts about eggs’ colors, shapes, functions, and sizes across countless avian species. While the majority of the book is comprised of beautifully soft-hued illustrations and brief blocks of text explaining bird nests and the eggs that they contain, all oviparous animals, including insects, fish, and reptiles, get at least a mention. Biological diversity is the unifying theme, as Teckentrup explains the adaptive reasons that eggs differ from species to species. Additionally, humans’ reverence for eggs as objects of religious, mythological, and artistic significance is described. Teckentrup’s latest book, particularly its gently muted illustrations, succeeds at a very difficult task—encouraging young readers to find beauty and profundity in some of nature’s most seemingly ordinary objects.
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