The Last Egg

The Last Egg

Sofie Laguna

Jess Racklyeft

A & U Children’s, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781761180330

Mother Bird sat over her eggs.
‘Not long now,’ she said to Father Bird.
Father Bird brought her worms and seeds.
‘Not long at all.’

But that night there is a strange commotion above the tree, and in the morning a fourth egg, larger than the others, is in the nest.  Mother Bird takes it under her wing with her own and as her own, and even though her little ones hatch, become independent, even flying away to warmer shores, she remains sitting on it waiting for it to hatch.  Deep into winter she sits and waits, steadfast in her determination. with Father Bird taking care of her until food is scarce and the cold becomes overwhelming.  Will Mother Bird’s belief that “all eggs hatch” mean that she and Father Bird will make the ultimate sacrifice or will there be a miracle?

This is a soft, emotional story that is built on the beliefs and values of commitment, loyalty, resilience and most of all, hope.  Even when the days seem darkest, Mother Bird believes there is better to come, even if it means risking her life to see her duty through. And when the egg finally hatches and what emerges is a surprise, she accepts it regardless.  Because that’s what mothers do – they take in strays and treat them as their own regardless of their appearance and circumstance.  We’ve all met them in our lives – strangers helping strangers because they’re vulnerable and need a hand up, not just a hand out. 

Accompanied by the soft-line, soft-palette illustrations of Jess Racklyeft that deftly show the passing of time as well as the relationships and the emotions they evoke,  Sofie Laguna has created another comforting story of  unselfishness, kindness and determination that ensures we can all believe in and reach warmer shores.