Owls

Children's Literature

This entry in the "Wild Wild World" series contains an animal overview, interesting facts subcategorized by headings on double-page spreads (e.g., "Owl Features," "Staying Clean," "Blending In," and "Owl Calls") and vivid close-ups arranged artistically or sequentially to illustrate a concept. Photographs, which lack captions, surround and face the short paragraphs of text. For instance, in a picture of owl food, the text merely identifies classifications of food (reptiles, amphibians), while the table of six pictures displays a tantalizing array of unidentified animals from various parts of the United States. While a child does not to have to read much text or go far to discover what the photographs portray, by not using captions the series misses the chance to educate children as to how to "read" the photos more deeply or to confirm what they think is being pictured. Photographs appear to be taken in the wild, with the exception of baby owls displayed on a human hand for scale. A skimpy, four-word glossary and lack of an index make this an additional purchase for most libraries. It is a book that families could read as an introduction to the topic and then do additional research in more completely realized texts. 2003, Blackbirch Press/Gale Group, Ages 7 to 11.
—Susan Hepler, Ph.D.