PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: To See an Owl by Matthew Cordell
ABOUT THE BOOK
An endearing story about a girl’s efforts to spot an owl from the Caldecott Medal winning creator of Wolf in the Snow. This gorgeous picture book that encourages patience and perseverance will resonate with readers of all ages who have longed to see one of these elusive creatures in the natural world.
When will I find you?
Where could you be?
What will it take?
To see an owl.
Silent and wide-eyed, owls are hidden creatures of the night. Janie has always dreamed of finding one. She searches everywhere for signs of an owl – on the open prairie for short-eared owls, on the beach for snowy owls, and for great horned owls in the woods near her home. But months go by, and she sees no owls. She wonders, what will it take to see an owl?
Her teacher, Mr. Koji, a fellow bird-lover, shares that he, too, waited a long time to see an owl. He assures her, “If you are very quiet and very patient, and if you look very close, you might just find them.”
When the snow begins to fall, Janie and her mother head into the woods again, and as she looks carefully, hidden high up in the trees, what she sees is pure magic.
From Matthew Cordell, the creator of Wolf in the Snow that was awarded the Caldecott Medal, comes this beautiful story about quiet perseverance that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the anticipation of discovering a rare treasure in the wild.
REVIEW
A young girl passionate about owls seeks to find one in the wild. But despite her best efforts and everything she's learned about them, she just hasn't had any luck locating one. To her benefit, her teacher also happens to be birder, and with his guidance, it just might be possible to achieve her goal. Not only does this book highlight the power of persistence in following a dream but it also shows the beauty to be found in nature. Using his easily recognizable pen-and-ink with watercolor illustrations, Cordell takes readers on a journey of ups and downs as the girl gathers information and bonds with her teacher on the way to achieving her dream. Anyone who has ever desired something with all their hearts will be able to relate to the main character as she keeps trying despite numerous failures. The mother's patience in helping her daughter pursue her goal even when she doesn't want to is admirable as well. A great book to share that will undoubtedly encourage young readers/listeners to share their own dreams and help parents or teachers to guide children in pursuing their own dreams. Highly recommended.
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