Brrrr! Ever since the cold weather hit, I have been wanting to add this book to the rolls. It is a wonderful book to read in the cold winter. You may know Jane Yolen as the auther of "How Do Dinosaurs Say Good-Night?" and other books in that series. Here, in "Owl Moon," a different type of storyteller emerges. "Owl Moon" is a book narrating a young girl's walk in the cold, quiet night with her father to go "owling." Owling is when you take a walk to go look for owls. As the book says, there is a time and place for it, and apparently, the dead of a winter's night is the perfect time. The author describes the biting blue night as she walks behind her father out into the woods to find the elusive bird. One can actually feel the cold as she describes it, and also the exciting anticipation of trying to find the owls. We don't learn a lot about the storyteller's father, except that we get the impression of a quiet, steadfast and intelligent man--all the makings of a good father. He is able to summon the owls with a call. We hold our breath when the bird is found, so even we readers don't make a sound as to scare it away, and then, retreating back to the warm house, victorious and tired, and cold.
Why we like this book: Winter really is a quiet cozy time, and when we do venture from our warm homes into the cold, it can often be a great time of the year to discover the outside again. After all, everyone loves to be outside in warm weather, but the cold weather has its benefits, too, for learning about all the creatures that are active when the temperature drops. "Owl Moon" is one of those books that remind you that there is life in the cold. It also illustrates how exciting it is to finally be old enough to accompany the "grown-ups" on a walk you've long heard about, but were too young to enjoy. Illustrator John Schoenherr shows you a cold winter's night can be expressive to children, by painting the long shadows of the father and daughter walking in the moonlight. He also reminds you of the colors of winter: that of blue, grey, white and silver.
Enjoy "Owl Moon" under a big blanket on a cold night! And stay warm!
Enjoy "Owl Moon" under a big blanket on a cold night! And stay warm!
