Little Owl Lost

by Chris Haughton, Chris Haughton (Illustrator)

Overview

From a debut author-illustrator! What if a little owl fell from his nest? A reassuring story for the very young told with whimsy and simple, vibrant artwork. (Ages 2 and up)

Uh-oh! Little Owl has fallen from his nest and landed with a whump on the ground. Now he is lost, and his mommy is nowhere to be seen! With the earnest help of his new friend Squirrel, Little Owl goes in search of animals that fit his description of Mommy Owl. But while some are big (like a bear) or have pointy ears (like a bunny) or prominent eyes (like a frog), none of them have all the features that make up his mommy. Where could she be? A cast of adorable forest critters in neon-bright hues will engage little readers right up to the story’s comforting, gently wry conclusion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763650223
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	08/10/2010
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Chris Haughton is an Irish illustrator and designer who now lives in London. In 2007, he was named one of Time Magazine’s DESIGN 100 for his work for Fair Trade and People Tree. LITTLE OWL LOST is his first picture book.

Editorial Reviews

By sticking to simple shapes and a bold palette, Haughton has created a debut that reads like a tattered old favorite. A single half-page shows Little Owl dozing off in his nest, then--once it’s turned--bouncing softly to the forest floor. The animals who find Little Owl are flat, stylized creatures in jewel colors, but their eyes convey a wealth of feeling. Squirrel peers at Little Owl, his paws clasped in concern, his neck stretched out quizzically. “My mommy is VERY BIG,” says Little Owl. “Yes! Yes! I know! I know!” says Squirrel. “Follow me.... Here she is. Here’s your mommy.” Squirrel points to an enormous teal bear, staring befuddled at readers. A few more cases of mistaken identity ensue before locating Little Owl’s mother (careful readers will have noticed her seeking out her progeny). With instinctive skill, Haughton uses spreads of the forest to establish atmosphere and set up jokes, then delivers punch lines with spot illustrations that zero in on the animals’ dopey but lovable expressions. A promising first outing. Ages 2-up. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

On the first double page, Little Owl and his mother are asleep atop a tree, but Little Owl is leaning over. We turn the half page to see his mother alone, as, "Uh-oh!" down falls Little Owl. He bumps to the ground. He tells a passing squirrel that he is lost. Squirrel says he will find his mommy, and asks what she looks like. When told, "VERY BIG," Squirrel leads him to a bear. Next Little Owl specifies pointed ears. But the rabbit Squirrel finds is not right either, nor are Frog's "big eyes." But luckily Frog knows his mommy, who is looking everywhere for him, and takes him to her open arms. They all go up to her nest for cookies, but then...Pencils and digital media create highly decorative animals in flat solid colors. In particular the owls, with huge eyes and rows of chest decorations, cry out to be stuffed animals. Check the end pages. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

Children's Literature - Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

PreS—Haughton's simple story line, retro colors, and folksy artwork bring a fresh view to an often-used plot. Little Owl falls from the nest while sleeping. He meets a squirrel who promises to help him find his mother, but Squirrel uses each descriptor ("Big Eyes," "Pointy Ears") to find the wrong animal. Finally, they meet Frog, who says: "I know your mommy....Your mommy's looking everywhere for you." Owl and owlet are reunited, and the new friends are invited up for cookies. The spare, repetitive text is just right for a preschool audience, and will quickly have young listeners chiming in with "That's not my mommy." Haughton's pitch-perfect use of language flows smoothly to the satisfying end. The pencil and digitally rendered illustrations, which have the feel of a mix of woodblock and cut-paper collage, are done in intense, saturated colors of olive, red, orange, fuchsia, blue, and yellow. Little Owl is black with blue and purple accents and bright eyes, and stands out boldly on both the color-saturated pages and the stark white ones. The art does a wonderful job of conveying movement and encouraging page turns. This little gem will work equally well in storytimes or one-on-one.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

School Library Journal

With instinctive skill, Haughton uses spreads of the forest to establish atmosphere and set up jokes, then delivers punch lines with spot illustrations that zero in on the animals’ dopey but lovable expressions. A promising first outing.
—Publishers Weekly

The art does a wonderful job of conveying movement and encouraging page turns. This little gem will work equally well in storytimes or one-on-one.
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher