Good Night Owl

by Greg Pizzoli Narrated by Paul Bellantoni

Overview

Owl tries his best to wrap up his night and settle in for a long sleep-after moving past a few bumps in the road-in this Geisel Honor-winning, giggle-worthy bedtime story.

Will Owl ever get a good night's sleep? He's ready for bed, but as soon as he settles in, he hears a strange noise. He looks everywhere-in his cupboard, underneath the floorboards-even in his walls. He'll never get to sleep unless he can figure out what's going on! But as he's busy tearing his house apart, he doesn't notice one tiny, squeaky, mouse-shaped detail-the culprit!

Every observant young reader will point again and again to the answer to Owl's persistent question, laughing all along the way. From the creator of The Watermelon Seed comes another pitch-perfect tale that's empowering, engaging, and entertaining.

"Entertaining bedtime drama that works equally well for new readers and for sharing aloud." -Horn Book

"A funny tale about stress and an ever-upping ante, with a comforting end." -Kirkus Reviews

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

01/25/2016
Pizzoli’s picture books can feel a little like Twilight Zone light: a cat who wishes away his family (Templeton Gets His Wish), a car-racing dog who unexpectedly loses (Number One Sam), a crocodile who fears a watermelon is growing inside him (The Watermelon Seed). This story is no different as it introduces a blue owl whose attempts at slumber are repeatedly interrupted by an inexplicable “squeek!” Readers instantly see that a friendly gray mouse is the culprit, but Owl isn’t so lucky. In an effort to locate the source of the noise, he clears the shelves of knickknacks and vinyl albums (he looks to be a fan of the Clash and Ramones), pries up the floorboards, and tears the roof off the house. Pizzoli’s bright colors, mid-century modern details, and fuzzy outlines offer a zingy counterbalance to Owl’s increasingly frazzled mental state. After reducing the house to rubble, Owl finally sees the mouse (“Owl smiled. He said, ‘Good night, noise.’ ”), and the two curl up in bed to sleep. Is that what the mouse was after all along? Pizzoli leaves the answer to readers. Ages 3–5. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Apr.)

From the Publisher

"Entertaining bedtime drama that works equally well for new readers and for sharing aloud."—Horn Book

"A funny tale about stress and an ever-upping ante, with a comforting end."—Kirkus Reviews

"Kids will be greatly amused by Pizzoli's latest effort."—School Library Journal

"Pizzoli's bright colors, mid-century modern details, and fuzz outlines offer a zingy counterbalance to Owl's increasingly frazzled mental state."—Publishers Weekly

School Library Journal

01/01/2016
PreS-Gr 1—Owl is just beginning his bedtime routine when he hears an annoying squeak. Readers can see that a cheerful little mouse is responsible, but Owl remains clueless about its origins. His attempts at discovering where the noise is coming from not only are glaringly wrong but also cause him to do enormous damage to his home. When he thinks that the squeak is coming from under the floor, he pulls up every last floorboard. When he is certain that he has a "noisy roof," children witness a manic Owl destroying it with a sledgehammer. The stakes get higher and higher, as will the laughs and groans from readers, until he obliterates every inch of his domicile save his bed. It is at this point that Owl spies Mouse, and with that discovery, they both go happily to sleep. While the ending is quirky and feels abrupt, kids will be greatly amused by Pizzoli's latest effort. VERDICT Filled with big, colorful illustrations and amusing facial expressions, this is a lively addition for most collections and a definite storytime addition.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MI

Kirkus Reviews

2016-01-20
Something is preventing Owl from falling asleep. Owl leans back against his white pillow and headboard. "Squeek!" says something underneath the bed. Owl's never heard that sound before, so he fastens his pink bathrobe and answers the front door. Nobody. It must be the wind; back to bed. Bidding himself goodnight, he climbs into bed—and hears the noise again. Time after time, he pops out of bed seeking the squeaker. Is it in the cupboard? He empties the shelves. Under the floor? He pulls up his floorboards. As Owl's actions ratchet up—he destroys the roof and smashes the walls, all in search of the squeak—so does his anxiety. Not until he hunkers down in bed under the night sky (his bed is now outdoors, because the house's roof and walls are gone), frantically clutching his pillow, does he see what readers have seen all along: a small, gray mouse. In simple illustrations with black outlines, textured coloring, and foreshortened perspective, Pizzoli plays mischievously with mouse placement. Sometimes the mouse is behind Owl or just out of his sightline; other times, the mouse is on a solid, orange-colored page across the spread from Owl, which removes him from Owl's scene in a rather postmodern manner. Is the mouse toying with Owl? Who knows? A funny tale about stress and an ever upping ante, with a comforting end. (Picture book. 3-5)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940177049625
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	11/02/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	Up to 4 Years

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