Owl Moon

Amazon.com

Among the greatest charms of children is their ability to view a simple activity as a magical adventure. Such as a walk in the woods late at night. Jane Yolen captures this wonderment in a book whose charm rises from its simplicity. "It was late one winter night, long past my bedtime, when Pa and I went owling." The two walked through the woods with nothing but hope and each other in a journey that will fascinate many a child. John Schoenherr's illustrations help bring richness to the countryside adventure. The book won the 1988 Caldecott Medal.

Customer Reviews:

Poetic with Beautiful Illustrations.......2007-09-16

Words are not enough to describe this beautifully written and illustrated book. You should experience the descriptive, poetic words and haunting drawings of a young boys rite of passage. All ages would enjoy the well told story. This is a must read!

Owl Moon

Great Kid's book.......2007-04-19

My grandaughter fell in love with this book from the library and Granpa had to buy it for her birthday. It is very well illustrated and well written, Granpa never tires of reading it to her, as she never tires of hearing it. In a market filled with children's books of dubious merit or worth, this is well worth it, to read, to buy, to have in the library of a young reader on her way to a lifetime of reading.

Perfect Bedtime Story.......2007-01-05

I ordered this book based on the reviews found on amazon. I was looking for a nature oriented book for my 2 year old son. This has become, by far, one of our favorite family bedtime stories. The illustrations are beautiful. The story is heart warming and real. My husband loves to read it as much as I do. This is a classic in our library and will remain so for many, many years.

Worthy of an Award - a review of "Owl Moon".......2006-11-19

I like Jane Yolen's work - the children do too (lol). But Owl Moon is probably the most poetic of her works that we have read. The word choice and imagery is wonderful; soft and soothing. You can hear the crunch of snow, and feel the biting cold.

Like the others I give it 5 stars, and would add that it makes for a good bed-time book.

Five Stars. Top notch Read-aloud. Artwork is nice, in darker shades than Yolen's other works. Perhaps not quite as nice in detail, but well suited to the story.

Teacher's Favorite.......2006-11-07

I love this book! It has also been loved by my pre K students every year. I always look forward to reading it to my class and I can't say that about a lot of preschool literature. This story takes my suburban kids on an adventure that, unfortunately, many of them will never experience. It's educational, exciting, and a little spooky (but not too much). Don't hesitate to add it to your collection.

Average customer rating:

OK Owls
A good book with funny parts!
Laugh out loud funny!
Excellant Book
Owls in the Family

Owls in the Family
Farley Mowat
Manufacturer: Yearling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0440413613
Release Date: 1996-03-30

Book Description

This time-saving, easy-to-use teacher guide includes inspiring lesson plans which provide a comprehensive novel unit--the legwork is done for you! The guide incorporates essential reading, writing and thinking practice. (This is NOT the paperback novel.)

Customer Reviews:

OK Owls.......2007-07-29

I might be in the minority, but I thought this book was simply - OK. It is clean cut, which is refreshing in juvenile literature. Unfortunately, I found it almost boring. Worse, as a novel writing teacher, I found the writing technique tended to "tell" rather than to "show." It is a quick-to-read book and lends itself to a great unit study of owls, so go ahead and get it, but don't hope for the best novel you've ever read.

A good book with funny parts!.......2007-05-25

Our reading group, The Picky Pickles, liked this book. We thought it had interesting scenes with animals and funny parts. The first chapter was a little slow, but the book got better and better as you read. We also liked how the animals were so attached to the people.

Laugh out loud funny!.......2005-10-19

Great heartwarming stories about a boy, 2 owls and a dog. I recommend this for all ages. The cover markets this as a childrens's book, but adults who like animals will love this story too. A bird lovers' delight!

Excellant Book.......2005-07-21

Granddaughter loved the book. Will read it myself. Perfect reading material for children.

Owls in the Family.......2005-07-20

I read Owls in the Family to my second and third grade class last year and they loved it. There were a lot of funny situations as a young boy tries to win a prize in the pet parade with his owls. It is realistic as well humorous and kids can learn a lot about owls and their interaction with other animals like dogs,gophers, rats, snakes. Ii is set in a small town in Canada in a time when parents could let their children explore the town and surrounding wilderness without worrying about kidnappers and gangs.

It is a recommended read aloud for grades 2-6 in Jim Trelease's book "The Read Aloud Handbook."

Average customer rating:

A favorite, easy story line, lovely drawings
What is all the hype about?
"I WANT MY MOMMY!", SAID BILL.
Not just your toddler will love it, you will love it, too !
Heartwarming

Owl Babies
Martin Waddell
Manufacturer: Candlewick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0763617105
Release Date: 2002-04-01

Product Description

When three baby owls wake one night to find their mother missing, they can't help but wonder where she's gone... this tale is sure to comfort children who will recognize and appreciate the fears of these young owls.

Customer Reviews:

A favorite, easy story line, lovely drawings.......2007-09-04

Very cute book. Three baby owls syblings awaken at night to find their mother not in the nest. Although they know she is out hunting, they are nervous and find it hard to wait for her. She does return and remind them that she will always take care of them. The color scheme is dark (because it is night) but the drawings of the owls are charming. The sentences are short and the repeat in patterns, making it easy for children to follow. The distinct personalities of the baby owls make for laughs and smiles and are a memorable quality of the book.

What is all the hype about?.......2007-05-25

Our family did not like this book. The illustrations are dark and really scary looking (I understand owls are active at night, but it could have been different...) Story is kind of annoying with
"...", said Percy
"...", said Sarah
"...", said Bill.
We just did not get what all the hype was about and expected SO MUCH better with all the 5-star reviews that this book had. Pretty disappointing.

"I WANT MY MOMMY!", SAID BILL........2007-04-24

I purchased this book for my daughter when she was less than 2 years old. We read it every night for years.

It is such a delightful book about three young owls, Sarah, Percy and Bill who wake in the night to find their mommy GONE!. As they wait for her to return, they sat and they though (all owls think alot) about what could happen to her. All of a sudden, she swooped through the trees to the three owl babies. Sarah, Percy and Bill were so excited. Their owl mommy tells them, "you knew I'd come back".

I love to give this wonderful book as gifts. It was so well written by Martin Waddell and the illustrations by Patrick Benson are beautiful. This is a keeper!

Not just your toddler will love it, you will love it, too !.......2007-04-12

It's my routine to buy the gift set - boardbook with plush toy if it's available because I can read the book while my child is holding the toy listen to the story.
The story is simple, fun and age appropriate. I certainly hope I can find more book + toy gift set, so that we can have a good collection of reading and playing material.

Heartwarming.......2007-03-19

Owl Babies is a wonderful story and the illustrations are beautiful. My granddaughter and I loved it!!!

In This Sign: The Highly Acclaimed Novel of a Family Whose Love and Courage Enable Them to Survive in the Silent World of the Deaf (Owl Books)

Average customer rating:

Good, but not like the movie
Deaf Life
In This Sign
Can a true portrayal of life keep you reading? Yes!

In This Sign: The Highly Acclaimed Novel of a Family Whose Love and Courage Enable Them to Survive in the Silent World of the Deaf (Owl Books)
Joanne Greenberg
Manufacturer: Owl Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0805007229

Book Description

The highly acclaimed novel of a family whose love and courage enable them to survive in the silent world of the deaf.

Customer Reviews:

Good, but not like the movie.......2006-07-06

I bought this book because years ago I saw the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie "Love Is Never Silent," which was based on this book. I wanted a more "in-depth" look into the story.

I think this is the first time I liked a movie better than the book. While the book was good, it didn't give me as much of a background into the story as I'd hoped.

There were a few points of the story I wish would have been expanded upon, but I felt like I was left hanging a little bit.

Deaf Life.......2002-10-24

I am a Sign Language interpreter. I am with deaf people every day. This book is a wonderful, accurate account of how many deaf people feel about the hearing world.
Hearing people will never be able to understand how frustrating a deaf person's life often is. It is hard to have to go through an interpreter for all your business and often private transactions.
This book beautifully told the story from both sides, and I highly recommend it to anyone.
Thank you.
Marsha Binau

In This Sign.......2002-06-19

We all have signs, in spoken language, in the way we behave, in the way we act..... And the signs are important to understand ourselves and to understand others.

In this book Joanne Greenberg tells the story of a deaf couple and their hearing daughter. The story is so sad, I have cried alot, and at the same time I learn so much from the book. Janice and Abel are both deaf and because of a misunderstanding early in their married life, a misunderstanding because they are unable to hear, their lives make a tragic turn. This change their lives dramaticaly, and takes away most of the beauty. Their daughter can hear, and becomes the link for Janice and Abel to the world of hearers, a world they don't understand and don't trust.

This is the story about Janice and Abel who live in their own world. A world of signs. Signs they are ashamed to show. They are quite young when they leave deaf school to marry, and the book is a heartbreaking story of their fight for their lives in the hearing world.

A book you will learn alot from, a book you can't put down once you have started.

Britt Arnhild Lindland

Can a true portrayal of life keep you reading? Yes!.......1997-04-04

This book has a strange impact on the soul. It's a story thatmight be described as about deafness, since it's the story of deafcouple, their hearing daughter, and their struggles through life. And yet the comment I hear most frequently about this book--from old and young, women and men, those who can hear and those who can't--is this: "I could relate." It was the same way with me. As I read this book I kept thinking..."that's like my family--thats like MY parents--that's like me." This book isn't JUST about deafness...it's about what separates us, about the walls we put up around ourselves and how to break them down. The characters aren't heroic and they aren't extraordinary. They live, go to work, go to school, cry, laugh, have children, make and lose friends...and you can't put their story down because it's too much like yours. I never wanted to read about life, just life, until I saw it so well portrayed.

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Enjoyable reading material for all.
I guess it's okay
One of the best books I've ever read!
Owl lovers vs. loggers
Lessons from our feathered friends

There's an Owl in the Shower
Jean Craighead George
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064406822

Book Description

Borden's father, Leon, was a logger in the old-growth forests of California. That is, until the spotted-owl lovers interfered. One day, frustrated by his father's unemployment, Borden sets out on a mission of revenge against the spotted owl but returns home with a half-starved owlet instead.
The family soon discovers that the owlet, whom Borden names Bardy, loves to take showers and watch late-night TV. Only after the whole family has fallen in love with Bardy do they realize that the conflict between nature and human industry is not so easily resolved.
Award-winning nature writer jean Craighead George tells a heartwarming story about a family and their love affair with a special little owl.

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyable reading material for all........2006-08-25

I am a mature adult who read this book on a chance and discovered it to be quite entertaining and enlightening at the same time. I can see why many children would enjoyed reading this book. The approach proves to be fair, balance and while it take a pro-environmental perception toward the end, it teaches that there are two sides to a debate.

The book also take pains to developed the characters and the gradual evolution of the main character's father, a lumberjack laid off from work dues to endangered owls proves to be most reflective. The father's gradual understanding of issues of both sides guide the readers as well.

The book also educated about owls. Why they cast out pellets or what hunger streak in feathers can do. These information come gradually and unrushed for easy absorption of information for children.

The writing proves to be light and easy to read, story was interesting and while it was geared toward elementary school children and they should love this book, I enjoyed it myself as well. Thus, the book come highly recommended and while it end in rather a somber note (no happy ending here), its an intelligently written book, suitable for all.

I guess it's okay.......2006-01-09

I bought this book for my younger sister for christmas who loves animals.I looked at the cover and the picture of the owl was adorible!
But later when my sister read the book, she said that Borden's father kept saying that he was going to kill the bird.
Well at the end of the book he doesn't kill the bird but just before the end it is really sad what happens to Bardy.
To find out what happens, just read the end of the book.

One of the best books I've ever read!.......2003-11-15

This book is awesome!I read the first chapter in the book store and I just had to take it home with me!If I could I would rate it 10 stars.

Owl lovers vs. loggers.......2003-11-10

It's owl lovers vs. loggers who hate the spotted owl for putting them out of job. It's an amazing book by an amazing author about a boy whos father was a logger and he took in an owlet that was on the ground. You won't want to miss this!

Lessons from our feathered friends.......2003-10-03

I came across this book while hunting for books suited to the educational needs of my nine-year-old cousin. This book explores the age-old conflict between economic progress and environmental concerns. The argument for both sides is presented in a manner easily understood by children of grade-school age, and although the book heavily and undisguisedly favors conservation, the humans in this story are warm, believable and not portrayed as selfish destroyers of old growth forests.
The protagonist of this story is young Borden, whose father, a lumberjack, loses his job following a government directive to preserve old growth forests in order that the habitat of the Spotted Owl may be saved. Borden's family is understandably angry, as it appears to them that the government cares more about owls than about people. Here we get the usual argument from the loggers' point of view that logging puts food on the table, that logging has always formed a substantial part of the economy, that the legislators have forgotten the role of the loggers in nation building (i.e. by providing timber for construction), that the extinction of the Spotted Owl would be no great loss to the human population and that the government should strive to protect the interests of people rather than of birds.
Borden enters the woods with the intention of killing the spotted owls that took his father's job. He finds, instead, an owlet that has fallen out of its nest. Assuming that it is a Barred Owl, Borden takes the owl home and names it Bardy. His out-of-work father develops affection for the owl and observes every stage of its growth. When Borden's father receives a summons for assault and public disorder after hitting an ecologist, he decides to bring the owlet to court with him to win over the sympathy of the judge and to convince the public that loggers are not enemies of owls. Soon, true love for the young owl wins him over and he decides to free the owl and pay the fine rather than capitalize on the owl for his own selfish motives. The family learns the consequences of forest loss when a family friend loses his job as a fisherman because the river is too polluted. Borden's father decides to retrain himself for other, more sustainable professions after he understands that change is inevitable and the welfare of the Planet is in his hands as well as the ecologists'.
The environmentalists' side of the story is that the destruction of wildlife habitats and the decrease in the number of Spotted Owls are indications that people are not managing the forests right. Indeed, the exploitation of natural resources does not mean that humans will be able to live better - it might mean that it will help people (poachers, loggers, wildlife traders etc) put food on the table for the time being, but natural resources would be dissipated quickly and human health would suffer more than if measures had been taken to sustainably manage rather than exploit resources. Every action has a consequence, this book teaches us, and if there are no more spotted owls, the rodent population would increase. If there are fewer trees then it won't be long before the loggers are truly out of work as there will be no trees left for them to cut. The loss of trees would cause the loss of vital watershed areas. There will be less fresh water for people, less freshwater fish and less clean air. People have to learn that their quality of life is intertwined with the fate of the Planet. More toys and gadgets and bigger homes do not make for a better life if the air, water and soil are polluted.
There is much to learn in this book about animal behavior. The title of this book comes from a stage in the transformation of the owlet into an adult owl. Owlets bathe shortly before they are prepared to learn to fly.
Far from being moralizing, this book is absorbing and teaches reverence for all beings, from people to owls and trees. A recommended read for children, parents and teachers.

Baby Steps, Second Edition: A Guide to Your Child's Social, Physical, Mental and Emotional Development in the First Two Years (Owl Book)

Average customer rating:

Concise and Worthwhile for new parents on Child Development
helpful
Fascinating 'guidebook' for your babies develpment.

Baby Steps, Second Edition: A Guide to Your Child's Social, Physical, Mental and Emotional Development in the First Two Years (Owl Book)
Claire B. Kopp
Manufacturer: Holt Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

ASIN: 0805072438

Book Description

When Baby Steps was first published in 1993, it was named one of the 10 Best Parenting Books by Child magazine. Now, this popular guide to baby's first two years has been completely revised to incorporate the latest research on the young child's developing brain and behavior, including brand-new material on temperament, language, and memory. Baby Steps pinpoints the important events in an infant's life, examining them month by month for the first year, and in three-month intervals during the second year. Beginning with a 'miniguide' to early development, the book goes on to a cover such important subjects as sleep, crying, colic, motor development, social play, and toilet training. Developmental hints and alerts throughout the book provide parents with a clear understanding of the full range of 'normal' behaviors for each phase, helping to allay common anxieties. An accessible, concrete guide to infant and toddler behavior, Baby Steps takes much of the guesswork out of parenting.

Customer Reviews:

Concise and Worthwhile for new parents on Child Development.......2007-08-13

I purchased this book because I want to make sure that I keep a keen eye on my child's development the first year. This includes, knowing when something is wrong, knowing when he is behind in developing and normal activities that my child enjoys each month as they progress. This book provides all of that in a concise month to month format. Each chapter is broken down into the following sections: Overview, Images in Development (includes, to name a few: Motor Control, Perception, hearing, cognition, vocalization), Developmental Close-up (includes, to name a few: sleep/wakefullness, motor reflexes,crying, colic).
I don't have a lot of time to read about these things and don't want a book that talks over my head and this book is perfect for this requirements. For example, one of the things my infant does is to bend his arm at the elbow and place his palm nex to his head while the other arm is straight at his side. I thought this was just a cute thing he did but upon reading the book realized this a reflex called "tonic neck reflex" and should disappear by month six. If it has not then my child needs to be tested for a neurological disorder.
As a parent, it is imperative to know what to look for as your child develops. A pediatrician can only diagnose what he sees or what you tell him about. I would not have known to look for this reflex and its continued existence past 6 months without this book. This is just one example of how this book has helped me.
I recommed this book over the Dr Spock books anytime. If you want a book on how to calm your baby in the first three months of life you HAVE to get the book and DVD called" The happies baby on the block".
Happy hunting for the perfect book!

helpful.......2006-02-25

I think this book is a helpful guide. It is a quick, easy read when you are using it by the month. "Baby Steps" gives an accurate overview of where your child is at physically and emotionally--just as the title says. I feel like it sheds light on the mystery and subtlety of a new baby for a first time parent.

Fascinating 'guidebook' for your babies develpment........2005-12-20

The book covers child development from birth to 24 months, with a chapter corresponding to a month of the childs life. Each chapter covers Motor Control, Perception, Vocalizations, Cognition, Social Development and one or two other topics such as crying, physical development milestones, socializing etc.
I've found it fascinating to watch our twin boys develop and read about their developmental progress in this book. It's very easy to read, gives a lot of information without delving too much into actual physiological reasons for behaviours/abilities like a lot of other Developmental guides.
My only complaint is that the print quality of the book is very poor, and my copy also had sections of text actually missing due to printing errors. Hopefully these problems will be rectified, as it really is an excellent read and I'd highly recommend it for new parents!

Average customer rating:

The Very Worst Thing
Excellent book, wonderful author!
A Must-Read!
Review for The Very Worst Thing by Torey Hayden
Wonderful book

The Very Worst Thing
Torey Hayden
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060297921
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Book Description

David doesn't
belong anywhere.

He isn't good at school, or talking to people, or making friends. He's been in six different foster homes, and he can't really remember his parents. It seems like he'll never have anything all his own.

Then he finds an owl egg. With the help of Mab, the skinny "girl genius" of his class, he names it King Arthur and sets out to hatch and raise an owl of his very own. As they wait for King Arthur to hatch and as they raise the funny-looking owl chick, Mab and David become true friends.

But Mab's father thinks they should return King Arthur to the wild. Can David give up his owl? Is it even the right thing to do? What can David do if the worst thing of all happens?

Customer Reviews:

The Very Worst Thing.......2007-07-12

I didn't know this was a book for children. I love Torey Hayden's writings ~ I didn't read it but passed it on to my sister-in-law for her 10 year old granddaughter.

Excellent book, wonderful author!.......2007-01-07

I read this book myself and then read it to a class of 5th graders. I loved it and my students loved it as well! Great story to discuss bullying, friendship and courage.

A Must-Read!.......2004-06-16

I snuggled up to "The Very Worst Thing" during a rainy afternoon and couldn't put the book down until I finished it. I was immediately sucked in to David's world and felt everything he felt. I wanted to fight for him as he fought against the bullies and I wanted to help him find the words to say what he felt to Granny and Mab. The characters were so realistic and believable, right down to the sludgy Mrs. Mellor and nice looking, but not-so-attentive Mrs. Hallowell.

I plan on sharing this book with my high school age special education students this fall. I imagine that some of them will feel an instant connection to David and I know they will enjoy "The Very Worst Thing" as much as I did.

Review for The Very Worst Thing by Torey Hayden.......2004-05-06

I read this book to 30 third grade students and they enjoyed it very much. They want a copy for our school library and would like to see Torey write a sequel. My students are interested in knowing what happens next to the main characters. They liked this book because it was "funny and exciting". They could relate to the bullying episodes and empathized with the main characters. It was a good read aloud for my eight and nine year old students.

Wonderful book.......2004-05-05

As a bookseller, I sort through thousands of books per day, and nothing quite measures up to the work of Torey Hayden. Her latest endeavour into the children's book world is no exception. THE VERY WORST THING is all at once interesting, thrilling, heartwarming, and suspenseful, sure to keep kids thinking long after they put the book down. It is certainly a must-have for any classroom or library, and will make a glowing addition to your personal collection as well!

Average customer rating:

Brilliant...but not for everyone
Worst book I ever read
Intriguing but ultimately dissatisfying
HATED IT!!!!
Beware of the plates

The Owl Service
Alan Garner
Manufacturer: Odyssey Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0152056181

Book Description

Something is scratching around in the attic above Alison's room. Yet the only thing up there is a stack of grimy old plates. Alison and her stepbrother, Roger, discover that the flowery patterns on the plates, when traced onto paper, can be fitted together to create owls--owls that disappear when no one is watching. With each vanished owl, strange events begin to happen . As the kids uncover the mystery of the owl service, they become trapped within a local legend, playing out roles in a tragic love story that has repeated itself for generations . . . and has always ended in disaster.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant...but not for everyone.......2007-01-30

I agree with previous reviewers that this book will likely be lost on young children, and likewise on adults and young adults who like their books obvious and don't want to invest the time in re-reading. Alan Garner is the writer's writer. His work invites and rewards study.

For me, this is one of the best books I've ever read, and it's had a profound influence on me as an author. Garner takes ideas and compresses them so tightly, the book reads like poetry. There isn't a single wasted word here; there's no "filler", no unnecessary stage directions. The dialogue is outstanding. Unfortunately, this results in a reading experience that's confusing the first time around. The second time through, things become clearer. What's amazing about this book is that I've read it about a dozen times, and every time I read it, I discover something new, hidden in the text.

There are moments in the book that have haunted me for years: the moment when Gwyn goes up into the attic and picks up the plate, and everything changes. The scene where Roger and his father look through the photos Roger took on the riverbank is one of the eeriest things I've read.

What I found really interesting is that recently I picked up a copy of Ysabel by Guy Kay (a best-selling author in his own right), which also features a love triangle lived out in the modern day, and what struck me was that Garner's economy with words and his technical ability to convey feelings and atmosphere is vastly superior to Kay's. Kay hits you over the head with *how important everything is*. Garner lets the events speak for themselves.

The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars was because of the ending. I agree with other reviewers that this was the weakest part of the book for me. I always feel with Garner's books that they must be missing a page or two from the very end, and I wish he'd left them in.

Worst book I ever read.......2006-04-17

The only reason I finished this book was because I had to review it. The writing is horrible. I have no idea how this book was ever published.

Intriguing but ultimately dissatisfying.......2005-11-07

I agree with the reviewer who said this book needed a few more chapters. I really enjoyed it and it kept me intrigued all the way through but at the end I felt 'was that it?' - I felt I must have missed something and reread the entire book through again. Sure I did pick up a lot of subtext that I missed first time but I still was not satisfied with how it turned out. The themes of class and sexual envy were interesting but perhaps not entirely suitable for a children's novel - albeit one for big teenagers - and the relationship between the three main characters is a little ambigious. I like the way the class differences between the characters intensify as the novel progresses though you're quite sure how far this is the result of finding the dinner plates, or how far it reflects the characters real natures.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the story is how it uses old welsh myths as a background - it interested me enough to start looking up some of this stuff on the web - amazing I wasn't aware of its existence before.

I think all in all its more a book for adults than kids - though I was a fairly precocious reader I don't think I would have made much of this when I was a teenager. A better choice for kids would be 'The Dark is Rising' series by Susan Cooper which explores very similar themes.

HATED IT!!!!.......2005-03-19

This was the worst, least discriptive, most boring, confusing, unloveable book I have ever, ever, ever read!!! This book has no detail whatsoever! If you read the plot discription, half the things it says DIDN'T EVEN HAPPEN!!!!
I recomend this book to anyone that doesn't have common sense!
If they gave you a choice not to give this book any stars, i would have chose it!!!

Beware of the plates.......2005-01-20

One thing that could never be said about "Owl Service" is that it is like every other fantasy book. Because it's not. Alan Garner skillfully weaves Welsh mythology with a suspenseful, almost horrifying story about ancient power reaching to the modern day.

Something is scratching through Alison's ceiling, when she is sick with a stomachache. She and the cook's son Gwyn venture up into the loft, and there find a heap of strangely patterned plates. At first glance, the pattern appears to be an abstract floral; upon closer examination, Alison finds that when she traces around the pattern on pieces of paper, that they form tiny paper owls. Alison's brother Roger is inclined to be dismissive, but Gwyn isn't so sure.

For some reason, discovery sends Gwyn's mother into a near-crazed frenzy, and attracts the attention of the old handyman, Huw. Huw tells Gwyn a tragic old story -- one that is connected to Alison's strange behavior. When their mothers forbid them to speak to one another, Huw reveals his true nature. To save Alison from repeating the cycle, Gwyn learns that he must discover things about his own past...

Like the previous two children's books by Alan Garner, this is about modern-day children swept up in mythical forces, but while the creatures and people of "Weirdstone" and "Moon" were solid and easily-defined, here everything is misted and ghostly. So much so that the climax, while exquisitely written, is very hard to decipher, and which will leave readers feeling deeply unsatisfied. Just what happened?

Garner takes a relatively obscure myth and spins up a strange tale around it. The writing matches that. Garner's is an exquisitely atmospheric style: the scenes of magic are otherworldly, as is any scene where Alison cuts out the owls, which becomes more sinister as the reason why becomes clear. There are a few scenes where the atmosphere is wholly human, such as the scene where Gwyn's mother leaves him win the rain without caring what happens to him.

Gwyn is our Charlie Brown hero -- he's the boy next door, an ordinary kid with an embittered mother. Alison's personality is a little less defined, since she spends the story being possessed by the magic. We don't get to see much of the real Alison. And it's not clear Roger is in the story, since he contributes nothing except a series of obnoxious comments and insinuations. Huw is clearly a mystery from the beginning, that is slowly unravelled to reveal his tragic ancestry and past.

While flawed by some useless characters, "The Owl Service" is a beautifully written book. If only Garner had thought up a climax to match the exquisite buildup.

Average customer rating:

Best chilren's book
beautiful story
Endearing, Inquisitive 2 Yr Old..But This One's No Caldecott
GREAT BOOK
A beautiful work of art.

Owly
Mike Thaler
Manufacturer: Walker Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0802775454

Book Description

When Owly asks his mother question after question about the world, she finds just the right ways to help him find the answers.

Customer Reviews:

Best chilren's book.......2007-08-06

This book was one of my children's favorite books to be read to. They learned the same valuable lessons "Owly" did. After they learned them both my kids and I used the most valuable lesson in the book and applied this to our daily lives. So we all knew the answer to "How much do you love me?" And most every time we all would give the exact answer that Owly got. We used this communication until the boys moved out of the house. These memories I'll cherish forever.

beautiful story.......2007-03-16

This book is my childhood, It's an amazing beautiful story, that I still quote when telling someone how much I love them.

Endearing, Inquisitive 2 Yr Old..But This One's No Caldecott.......2002-11-26

Owly is two years old and he wants to know how high, how deep, how far, how much about EVERYTHING! His mother patiently helps him to discover the answers to his numerous questions by seeking the facts himself. He goes off to count exactly how many waves there are in the ocean and finds there are so many he can't count them all. Similar experiments yield similar fruit. The endearing story eventually reaffirms his mother's deep love for him as well. I think this book's message is very sweet and comforting and I think this is a good story. However, I'm not as excited about the illustrations. David Wiesner is one of my very favorite illustrators of children's literature and well deserving of the Caldecott Award he recieved for his book called Tuesday. The pictures in this book while sweet are very much on the dull side. Look at the cover picture and that is essentally all you will see for the rest of the book's 16 illustrations. All of the illustrations are very, very similar. We see baby Owly and his mother (cute brown owls) sitting on a black tree branch with a round white moon and round white stars, or yellowish streaks indicating sunrise, or pale greenish blue indicating daylight. We see Owly take flight in two pictures. We see him sitting on the shore in one. We see the two owls cuddling. The colors are all pale washes in the yellow-blue range. Wiesner has given the two owls cute expressions. I would never say that this fine artist has created bad illustrations. Never! But these are dull and take the book from the realm of 5 stars to that of 3. You will never find that this book creates anything but positive memories...but that is only IF it creates a memory at all.

GREAT BOOK.......2002-08-08

MY BOYS ARE NOW 19 AND 15 AND I USED TO READ THEM THIS BOOK WHEN THEY WERE SMALL. ONE IS NOW IN AWAY IN COLLEGE, THE OTHER IS, WELL, 15. BUT WHENEVER WE SAY GOODNIGHT OR SO LONG WE WOULD SAY I LOVE YOU-----AS MANY STARS AS THERE ARE IN THE SKY, ETC. I AM NOW PREPARING FOR ANOTHER BABY AND I WANT TO SHARE THE SAME JOY THAT WE GET NOW. IT IS AN EXCELLENT BOOKS. HOLD ON TO THESE STORIES AND TREASURE YOUR CHILDREN. ENJOY, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

A beautiful work of art........1999-11-10

This is a great book. I would recomend it to anyone young or old

Child of the Owl: Golden Mountain Chronicles: 1965 (Golden Mountain Chronicles)

Average customer rating:

BEWARE what your kids are reading
childs owl
Excellent, superb, and other words of adulation
it was okay
Good Starter Book Asian American Youth

Child of the Owl: Golden Mountain Chronicles: 1965 (Golden Mountain Chronicles)
Laurence Yep
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 006440336X

Book Description

Twelve-year-old Casey is waiting for the day that Barney, her father, hits it big -- 'cause when that horse comes in, he tells her, it's the penthouse suite. But then hr ends up in the hospital, and Casey is sent to Chinatown to live with her grandmother, Paw-Paw. Now the waiting seems longer than ever.

Casey feels lost in Chinatown. She's not prepared for the Chinese school, the noisy crowds, missing her father. But Paw-Paw tells her about the mother Casey never knew, and about her family's owl charm and her true Chinese name. And Casey at last begins to understand that this -- Paw-Paw's Chinatown home, her parents' home -- is her home,too.

Customer Reviews:

BEWARE what your kids are reading.......2006-10-07

Wow! I knew this book wasn't for us by page 24 when the author had already made a slang referance to women's breasts, glorified gambling for the whole 24 pages, referred to Playboy magazine, devoted a paragraph to a topless bar billboard description and used "Jesu Christe" as a curse.

My daughter was adopted from China, and when I came across my first 2 Lawrence Yep books, I was pleased with the creative writing and Asian-American cultural content. I don't know what all his other books are like, but I will certainly be reading any others thoroughly before I pass them down. I guess you can't trust an author by 2 books alone. And to think...I hadn't, yet, even gotten to the "cannibalism and spirits haunting the dead" part referenced by another reader in a previous review!

childs owl.......2004-03-12

Child of the Owl
Child of the Owl is an average book, it's about a Chinese girl that isn't wanted anywhere, and she loves her uncle. His name is Barney. He is a gambler, and he just lost big to big Mike. So she goes to paw paws house and lives there for a while. Many interesting things happen to Casey. Barney eventually gets his money back, and Casey lives with him. I did not like this book very much because, it got a little boring while Casey was at paw paw's house, there where a few interesting parts though, like when she went to her aunts house, her aunt had a husband and lots of other people in her family and they kept getting mad at Casey they thought she was dressed poorly and even thought she was a hoodlum. That was probably the most exciting and must interesting part in the story it was also very funny this books vocabulary was a little easy, and the author didn't use very many exciting words.

Excellent, superb, and other words of adulation.......2004-01-24

Here's the first sentence of "Child of the Owl":
"It was hard to understand Barney with the air tubes up his nose".

And from that sentence on it this book becomes one of the most readable I have ever encountered. Have you ever entered into a book, not knowing what to expect but suspecting that it's not going to retain your interest for very long? Knowing what little I did about "Child of the Owl", I walked into this gem of kiddie lit with more than a little trepidation. What I found was a story that was funny, touching, and ultimately informative. I'm naturally wary of books that are supposed to be "good" for children. That will teach them lessons about diversity while maintaining a sticky sweet didactic tone. But "Child of the Owl" isn't like that at all. Instead, it is honest-to-goodness gold.

The plot is especially good. Young streetwise Casey must leave her gambler father to live with her Grandmother in San Francisco's Chinatown for a little while. Laurence Yep has effectively written a tale that captures the spirit of a person never fully feeling as if they fit in. As the blurb on the cover of the books says, sometimes, "you can feel like a stranger, trapped in the wrong place, in the wrong time, even in the wrong body". What makes the book so eminently readable, however, is the care with which Yep has drawn upon his own experiences in 1964 Chinatown, to explain and examine Casey's reactions to life in that once tiny neighborhood.

Now if I was going to make a collection of Top Ten Children's Books Set In San Francisco, "Child of the Owl" would be number one. It would also be number one of Top Ten Intergenerational Children's Books and Top Ten Children's Books Containing Sarcastic Wisecracking Kids. Sorry Gilly Hopkins. Casey's got you beat. As a heroine she's funny, smart, and filled with reactions appropriate to a pre-adolescent. I highly recommend this book to any child wanting to learn more about the Chinese-American experience of living in America. The book speaks volumes to those living then and now. It is a book to be remembered.

it was okay.......2003-06-21

I read this book a long time ago in middle school and personally was able to relate to some of her Casey's feelings and experiences but I don't really remember what happened in the story. Don't take my word for it because I never paid that much attention to what I read back then. It was okay and she resembles some of my cousin and me when we were younger but I guess my parents would've thought she was silly. Thats all I remembered about it and the rest was okay but I guess its been too long ago since I read this book to write a review for it anyway.

Good Starter Book Asian American Youth.......2003-06-15

I found this book on the shelf of my 5th grade classroom 14 years ago, and it completely changed my life. Never before and actually, never since, did I feel like I could relate to a character in a book like that. But, of course, reading it again when i was older, I don't relate to anything in the book other than the main character was a Chinese American female, and so was I.

As opposed to some other Asian American books for kids, I like this one particularly because it takes place in the US. While more 'multi-cultural' books try and relate back to China a lot, I liked this one because I find it a lot more relavant to the 2nd generation/3rd generation experience, and it also appeals to the curiosity people begin to have about their 'culture' when they start thinking about ethnic identity.

The strong parts about the book: The story is engaging, and even though it was written in the 1970's or 1960's, it doesn't seem dated. It's about a separated family, and Casey's a toy-boy who doesn't take a lot of crap, as opposed to some goody-goody. And the backdrop of Chinatown makes it pretty interesting and urban, and gives a good general historical background of Chinatown as an ethnic enclave, too. Also, if anyone is concerned about the politics represented in the book, as far as I can tell, there aren't any messages of advocating for a color-blind society or all multi-culti-feel-good sentiment which are characteristics I find frustrating about a lot of other 'books for Asian American youth'.

The weak parts about the book: I don't really like a lot of mythology, folklore or fantastic stories. I hated them as a kid, and I still really don't like it now. My least favorite part as a kid is the story about the spirit of the owl, and it still makes me weary. The book still implies filial piety, but to a degree which I think it's ok, mostly because of Casey's strong personality and inclination to rebel. Also, most Chinese American kids live outside of Chinatowns so the experience is a lot different and I haven't heard of too many books which sort of discuss either a more urban, or a more suburbian narrative that's pretty realistic and has good politics, too.

Nonetheless, I still pick up the book from time to time. I don't know a whole lot of other Asian American kids books, but as someone who turned out to be an Asian American major in college, I still need to pay tribute to the fact that regardless of whether in retrospect I think my life related, it very early on offered me the narative of a Chinese American female in the US, and the beginnings of understanding what it meant for me to be Chinese American.

Other Yep books have a little too much mysticism and folklore for my taste, but I do think Dragonwings offers a strong look at the history of Chinese Americans in California.

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