Pros: Written and illustrated imagry, Parent child experience, the Owl
Cons: None, after 20 years this is still enjoyable and soothing
The Bottom Line: Having waited for the right moment a young girl is finally old enough to go owling with her father and oh, what a special winter night it was.
Nothing is more valuable than a simple childhood memory formed around a positive moment with a parent. One sound, the crunch of snow or the hoot of an owl, can conjure up a nostalgic treasure, a memory that can last a life time. Jane Yolen writes for children, from the child within her, and she draws out of us some of these significant gifts from our pasts.
In Owl Moon the anxiety of being grown up enough to share a special experience with a parent forms the foundation of this very special story. Those of us who grew up in climates with snow (occasional or frequent), can appreciate the accounting from this child who finally gets to go “owling” in the woods with her dad one cold winter evening. Having experience with snow is not necessary. Quiet walks in the rain or fog, along a shoreline or river, can each offer opportunities for creating those magical memories.
The snow under their feet quietly crunches as they walk into the woods. She knows the importance of being silent. She had been waiting a very long time for this opportunity and her Pa had always said she had to be quiet if they were to see an owl.
Jane Yolen has a unique way of telling gentle stories with poetic charm. She has a talent for taking the image beyond the visual senses as she creates multi-dimensional images in our minds.
“It was late one winter night,
Long past my bedtime,
When Pa and I went owling.
There was no wind.
The trees stood still
As giant statues.
And the moon was so bright
The sky seemed to shine.
Somewhere behind us
A train whistle blew,
Long and low,
Like a sad, sad song.”
This story is about a young girl and her father and the night they went out to hopefully call an owl and to have it respond to them. This is a story about the magical wonders of nature. This beautifully written book begins with the memories of a little girl, but the perspective changes from the child to the owl.
As Pa calls, Whoo-whoo-who-who-who-whooooooo they listen. Nothing! A sense of anticipation develops. Perhaps they won’t find an owl; that could happen. The owls could be hunting and not in this part of the woods. At this point father and daughter are being observed as they continue their walk through the woods. He called again and a sound came from out of the woods, Whoo-whoo-who-who-who-whooooooo. Pa almost smiled. Then he called back: “Whoo-whoo-who-who-who-whooooooo,” just as if he and the owl were talking about supper or about the woods or the moon or the cold. I took my mitten off the scarf, off my mouth, and I almost smiled, too.
Sometimes special glimpses that serve as reminders of our connections to nature occur and if lucky we have time to enjoy them. Each of us can reflect upon one of these moments. I’ve been fortunate and those moments have included a great blue heron, a coyote, a mountain lion and a great horned owl. Jane Yolen’s accounting of the child and her Pa is beautifully rendered, in part because it is based upon her husband’s owling trips with their children. Not only does the owl hoot in this story, but comes close enough for the three to stare at each other.
Owling was also a pastime of the illustrator, John Schoenheer, whose watercolor washes beautifully depicted the tranquil calm of this winter woodland. He drew his inspiration for the farm and woodlands from his own New England home. The shadows, moonlit snow, and small animals truly enhance this beautiful story.
Owl Moon is a gentle story of memories and shared special moments and is considered a classic by many. It is a wonderful bedtime story or book to share while camping with your children. There are many reasons this book was a Caldecott Medal Winner in 1989. The true beauty of this book can best be experienced by reading it with a favorite child.
This book is my fourth contribution to the Fight Illiteracy W/O. Join Cindy's and Dramastef's Fight Illiteracy W/O! I challenge others to see who can submit the most reviews and contribute the most books! What a great idea!
Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo-whoo-whoo, the...More at HotBookSale
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