Publishers Weekly
01/02/2017
Naturalist and photographer Holland (Animal Legs) documents the early life of a baby barred owl. Close-range images show “Otis” emerging from his family’s tree hollow home, followed by his (unnamed) sister. Occasional questions (“Can you find the vole that Otis’ father just brought him?”) encourage children to engage with the photographs that dominate the pages; the text is crammed into a column along the right-hand edges. Holland’s photographs offer engaging shots of the owlets, but because Otis and his sister don’t stray far from the nest, there’s little variation in the images, most of which show them peering from the hole in the tree they inhabit. A closing section of quizzes, owl-related vocabulary, and other details add educational heft to this brief introduction to owls’ daily existence. Ages 4–9. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
"Delightful for nonfiction storytimes everywhere, especially those with an interest in baby animals.—Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA for School Library Journal
School Library Journal
02/01/2017
PreS-Gr 1—This gem introduces children to the charming simplicity of the life of Otis and his barred owl family. His home is a hole in a craggy tree, where readers can observe as he eats under the watchful eye of his parents, squabbles and reconciles with his sister, and prepares for flight. Holland's photography matches the text well. After reading about the adorable Otis, students will be curious to learn more about barred owls. Back matter consists of additional information on anatomy, prey, and regurgitation, subjects that could spark discussion with an adult. VERDICT Delightful for nonfiction storytimes everywhere, especially those with an interest in baby animals.—Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA
Kirkus Reviews
2016-12-06
A photographic guide to a young barred owl's first few months of life. Otis the owl is born in a tree cavity. Holland cannot capture the nest on film because it is too deep, but she does get Otis' wide-eyed look at the world for the first time when he climbs to the cavity opening. He's just a little ball of fluff perched in a tree. Readers get a surprise when another ball of fluff appears. Otis has a sister! Touching on the general skills a young owl must learn to become independent (how to eat, strengthening wings for flight), Holland lightly dips in to this bird of prey's life. Concepts such as predator and prey, nocturnal, and preening are explored, and a smattering of direct questions lend a conversational tone. Alas, Otis never flies triumphantly from the tree—he only perches on a limb at the story's end—so there is not much resolution to this story of animal maturation cast as hero's quest. Large blocks of text squeezed into recto (with one exception) page frames make for a monotonous design, but it does give ample room for photographs, which propel the focus. May inspire budding owl enthusiasts. (additional information, activities) (Informational picture book. 4-7)
