FIRST THE EGG

Elle Fanning's quiet voice and relaxed pace set the perfect tone for poring over Laura Vaccaro Seeger's story of transformations. Amid gentle music and subtle sound effects, the egg becomes a chicken; the tadpole grows into a ribbeting frog. As the pattern is established, Fanning adds a questioning rise to her narration—seed? caterpillar? paint?—inviting the listener to anticipate and respond. The production includes an interview with the author, who remarks upon her creative process, describing her journal sketches, commenting on the influence of her training in animation, and articulating her desire to shape this concept book with the notion that both things and creativity are transformative. A.R. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2009]