The Rollaway Egg

By Libby Hartwell. Shortlistee of the Best Children’s Picture Book Text competition 2024

Pitch

Egg is accidentally pushed out of his nest, landing him in a perilous urban pickle.

Can Egg stay in one piece and find his way home?

Story

Spread 1

[A chimney-top nest above a cafe. Mother Stork accidentally knocks an egg from the nest as she flies away.]

Mother Stork stretches, her wings give a flap.

Long leggy legs push away with a tap…

One little egg is pushed out of the nest

Tumbling, falling, towards the roof crest.

He rolls along higgledy tiles with a bump,

And over the edge…

Spread 2

[Egg lands on cafe canopy and slips down towards edge.]

To a soft landing, Thwump!

But this is not safe! Egg rolls round and around,

Whirling and spinning towards the hard ground.

Continued…