Two words for parents looking for a bedtime story for very young children: Owl Babies (Candlewick, 32 pp., $5.99, paperback, ages 1–3). In this popular picture book, Martin Waddell tells a lackluster story about the separation anxiety that strikes three fluffy white owlets that are left alone one night when their mother flies off to hunt for food. But Patrick Benson illustrates the tale with captivating ink-and-watercolor pictures that help to make up for the weaknesses of a text that is at times cutesy and overelaborated. Benson also sets the white owls against a very dark background that, more strongly than most picture books, immerses you in a nighttime world and sets the stage for bedtime.
© 2008 Janice Harayda. All rights reserved.
One-Minute Book Reviews 
This is just wonderful–thanks!
I appreciate the diversity of your reviews.
GG
Comment by ggelliott — July 20, 2008 @ 11:27 am |
My pleasure, GG. Another nice thing about using “Owl Babies” as a bedtime story is that because the mother owl comes back, it reminds children indirectly that their parents will be there in morning (or in the middle of the night). So many children’s books are very preachy and didactic on that point, and this one isn’t.
Comment by 1minutebookreviewswordpresscom — July 20, 2008 @ 12:52 pm |