The Boy and the Owl

Seven-year-old Leo steps into his garden at night wearing his red hooded sweatshirt and green rubber boots, with a small notebook and a yellow pencil in hand. His father comes along with his own notebook, and together they start a nighttime observation journal. A soft hoot draws them to a pale barn owl with a heart-shaped white face resting on a branch, and Leo learns that watching wild creatures begins with staying quiet and keeping a respectful distance.

Night after night, Leo and his father return to write about the owl's soft feathers and dark eyes, and Leo keeps drawing its heart-shaped face. When two tiny owlets appear in a hole in the old oak tree, he understands that a whole owl family lives nearby and needs extra care. A talk with his neighbor Mrs. Patel gives Leo an idea for helping the owls, which he turns into a poster for the neighbors. Written by Jane MEADOW, this gentle tale can be read on Kids Tale Book and invites children and adults to talk about wildlife, darkness and quiet nights.