By Matthew Cordell
Random House Studio / Random House, 2025
40 pages
978-0-593-64989-3
Ages 4-8
“To see an owl is magic.” A girl fascinated by owls draws them, dreams about them, and goes in search of them with her mom, to no avail. She watches programs about owls. She reads about owls. She keeps an owl journal with pictures and facts. She’s also drawn a map of the nearby woods. When her teacher, also a birder, looks at her map, he shows her a spot where he’s seen great horned owls nesting. After school that day, she and her mom head out. “When will I find you? … Hoo-hoo-hoo Hooooo-hooo.” A child’s passion is supported by her mom (who is clearly not as enamored with owls) and a teacher with a shared interest in this picture book that builds to a moment of wonder for the child and a jolt of happiness for readers and listeners. “Magic.” The story unfolds patiently and includes a judiciously repeated refrain: “Perfectly stout. Large, round eyes. Silent, knowing faces. Birds of the night.” The girl and her mother both have long black hair and light brown skin in the detailed pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations that include pages from the girl’s owl journal. ©2025 Cooperative Children’s Book Center