This is a short story with limited text that follows the "except if" pattern. In the beginning the reader sees the egg which "is not a baby bird, but it will become one, except if" it becomes something else. Each page presents another idea which ends up being something other than the original idea. It is an enjoyable book that leaves the reader with a small surprise at the end. Averbeck brings the imagination to life with his illustrations which appear to be drawn by crayon which add to the playful character of this book. Readers of all ages would find this book worth the read due to the transformation of ideas and imagination that take place on every page. "Except if" they do not enjoy a cute little book to bring a smile to their face. This story was a big hit with Toddler Monkey, because it coincidentally features one of her new favorite words "except" (though she likes to say "except of" instead of "except if," as in, "Everyone loves spinach, except of me!") The book reads as a kind of exploration of the imagination. What could possibly come out of an egg? What might this snake also look like? The book also includes a dinosaur and fossils, which are a topic of great fascination right now. "What happened to the dinosaurs? What is the fossil?" The only source of confusion for my toddler is that the book doesn't look like the bones we've seen in the museum. I guess it's more of an impression kind of fossil. In any case, I already had to read this book about a million times the first week we got it.Note: I received a free copy of this book directly from the publisher.
What do You think about Except If (2011)?
An egg is just an egg, except if, after hatching it becomes something else.
—Delia
What an utterly delightful, sweetly simple yet unpredictable story.
—Naughtyone456
Hilarious and surprising. Great read for all ages.
—carpenoctum
