This book is branded as "discover little known facts about animals." Here's the thing. I found myself questioning if they truly were little known facts.....or where they puns. For instance: "Elephants enjoy taking baths." Do they really? Or do we just say that because they are often in the water?

It's a sweet book with delicate illustrations. I just don't know if it is a favorite or an alphabet book I would refer to again ( )

Canadian author Sara O'Leary and American illustrator Jacob Grant join forces in this entertaining alphabet book, offering a snapshot depiction of twenty-six different animals. From the titular owls, who cannot keep a secret, to the stargazing hedgehogs, who can't help being curious, each animal here has its own unique quality...

Having enjoyed other books from both O'Leary (This Is Sadie, A Family Is a Family Is a Family) and Grant (Cat Knit, Bear's Scare), I was sure I would enjoy Owls Are Good at Keeping Secrets: An Unusual Alphabet, and I was not wrong. The animal characteristics were sometimes quite apt - elephants being happiest at bedtime, toads being good at tongue twisters - and adorable artwork, this was a lot of fun to read! Recommended to young animal lovers, particularly those in the market for entertaining alphabet books. ( )

Received the book as part of the early reviewers program. The illustrations are absolutely charming with a soft slightly desaturarted colour palette. It's a traditional ABC book with one page per letter (shown in upper and lower case), accompanied by a "fact" about each animal, most of which aren't true (I suspect lions particularly do like napping).

It's not fantastical enough to be obviously fantasy to a young child, so I'd hesitate on this one--the literalist in me would have 100% accepted that, for instance, "alligators think you'd like them if you got to know them" as a child, whereas I'm fairly sure now most alligators don't give humans a second thought. Further, it's only the animal that's connected to the letter, so you don't get that reinforcement of letters (as you would with, say, "alligators adore all art," to make up an example.

My gold standard for alphabet books is Whatley's Quest which has no words and lets you hunt through a beautiful, richly-stuffed image for as many appropriate words matching the letter as you can come up with. ( )

Mentioned in Megan Dowd Lambert's Whole Book Approach webinar (see endpapers, title page)

An adorable (but not cutesy) book of made-up facts about animals. A fresh ABC book. ( )

With so many alphabet books out there, unique ideas and presentation are hard to come by. However, this charming little book does a good job of making things interesting. By giving a little piece of animal personality to compliment each letter, the author leaves room to expand the story and add the reader's own imagination. The art is pleasant as well. Overall, a very nice alphabet book for young children. ( )