Owl Babies

by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson. (Candlewick, 1992 ISBN 1564021017. Library Binding. Hardcover.) Picture Book. Grades Pre-K+.
This review by Carol Otis Hurst first appeared in Teaching K-8 Magazine.

Review

Martin Waddell's Owl Babies illustrated by Patrick Benson has strongly patterned text. In it three baby owls wake up in their nest in a tree to find their mother gone. Two of them reassure each other and themselves that she's coming back, that she's just gone out to look for food, that she'll be back soon. The third baby owl isn't interested in excuses or logic. He says over and over, "I want my mommy!" There's a line most kids can relate to and it offers much opportunity for dramatic interpretation. Please also note that this is a visually beautiful book. The texture-rich illustrations and the color interplay between text and illustrations make this a book worth relishing. The fact that it is also a useful beginning reading book is a bonus. Utility doesn't preclude artistry.

Related Areas within Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site

• First Books for Emergent Readers (an article).