Owl Babies

I can't believe I hadn't already reviewed this one. One of my favs!
It addresses children's fears and anxieties in a simple way, allowing even the youngest ones to identify with the three little owls who wait for their mummy to come back to the hollow in the tree. There is the one who puts on a brave face, the one who imagines the worst, and the one who just wants their mummy!
Repetitions and very short blocks of text make this book enjoyable by all age groups from 2 to 6, maybe even by some slightly younger child with an early knack for books, stories and relatively prolonged focused attention.

Baby owls, with names, wake up and realize their mother is gone. The youngest worries most of all. It is not clear that the mother ever told them that she was going out; very irresponsible on her part if that is so. The book is dark; it takes place at night. I was not reassured by the mother's return at the end that all is right with the world. The book would not be something I would choose to read aloud.

Three owlets awake one night to find their mother gone from the nest. The eldest and middle siblings try to reason through their fears, while the baby can only repeat his refrain, "I want my mommy!" Eventually the mother owl returns, to much fanfare. While the text is fine, the illustrations are phenomenal, their crosshatched texture radiating with rich jewel tones.

Three baby owls wait in their nest for their mom to come home. The youngest one is the most annoying (and thus my niece’s favorite).

Really nice short picture book with big, clear illustrations. Just repetitive enough and not too scary. One owl is much less scared than the other two, and the mom does come home pretty quickly.

The illustrations in this book are stunning. The story line made me smile. When three owl babies awaken to realize their mommy is not there, they immediately are afraid. Sarah, Percy and Bill leave the warm nest and venture out on the tree limb.

Each step along the way, the smallest owl, Bill, continually states "I want my mommy!" While the Sarah and Percy soon learn there is no way to comfort Bill, they grow increasingly worried. When their mommy returns, they bounce up and down.

While the story is simple, the expressions and body language are wonderfully illustrated.

Four Stars.

Sarah, Percy and Bill - three very anxious owlets - await their mother's return in this adorable reassurance tale meant for very young children. When their owl mother leaves the nest one night, the owl babies wonder where she has gone, and become more and more frightened, huddling together for comfort. "I want my mommy," Bill keeps repeating, and eventually, SHE COMES...

Patrick Benson's evocative ink and watercolor illustrations, which show the owl babies, fluffy and wide-eyed, against the dark backdrop of the forest, are the perfect accompaniment to Martin Waddell's simple narrative. The scene when Mother Owl returns, with its flapping and dancing, is humorous and heartwarming. Recommended by my friend Lori, I can see why this was one show more of her son's bedtime favorites! show less

A tender tale to remind the youngest of children that Mommy always comes back.

"I want my mommy!" Three baby owls awake one night to find their mother gone, and they can't help but wonder where she is. What is she doing? When will she be back? What scary things move all around them? Stunning illustrations from striking perspectives capture the anxious little owls as they worry. Not surprisingly, joyous flapping and dancing and bouncing greet the mother's return, lending a celebratory tone to the ending of this comforting tale.