Little Owl Lost

Little Owl Lost by Chris Haughton. Candlewick, 2013. ISBN: 978-0763667504

In my early 20's I started my career as a children's librarian. At the time I didn't pay any attention to board books. I would order some new ones for the library each year and replace the ones that had been eaten by dogs (I assumed it was dogs?!). Now that I have my own children I spend a LOT of time reading board books. I am enthralled by their sturdy construction, their compact size, the vibrant colors, their tasty highly digestible wood pulp and ink (am I the only person whose children seem to enjoy eating books as much as reading them?)

Anyway, Little Owl Lost is an oldie but a goodie. Somehow in my time as a librarian I never stumbled across Chris Haughton's work but it is AMAZING. He has a way of telling stories using simple language and illustrations that are poignant, expressive, and so accessible to young children.

After Little Owl falls out of his nest, squirrel tries to help Owl find his Mommy who is lost. Owl describes his mommy in ways that only a child could, "she's BIG!" "She has POINTY ears!" "She has BIG EYES!" Squirrel while trying to help introduces Owl to a slew of forest animals until finally, FINALLY, Frog helps reunite Owl and his friend's with Owl's Mommy.

My children let out an audible sigh of relief when Owl and Mommy were reunited at the end.