I love the narratives Nicola Davies creates around her nonfiction topics.

This one was pretty good too. Nominated 2008-2009 ( )

As in her previous titles, such as Bat Loves the Night (2001), zoologist Davies pulls young kids into the animal world with an atmospheric story that is filled with facts. A young boy helps his grandfather build a box for a barn owl and install it in a nearby tree. Together they wait and watch, and after many evenings, they spot a barn owl flying into their homemade nest, carrying prey for its young. On each spread, fonts in different sizes guide children toward the facts: words in larger typeface tell the story; lines in a smaller font, which resembles handwriting, imparts simple facts about owls' pellets, feathers, body features, and nesting habits. A concluding note tells more about nesting boxes. The poetic, sensory words (the owl's feathers have a "velvety softness") and the realistic, watercolor-and-pastel pictures, especially those of the snow-white bird against the darkening sky, will place kids at the center of the boy's experience even as it heightens their interest in these intriguing animals. Engberg, Gillian
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This book is good for kindergarten and older. It is about a girl and her father who are searching for a barn owl. This book tells a lot about owls. It can be used for free reading and many will enjoy this great story and amazing pictures.

A small girl and her grandpa put up a nesting box in a tree and wait for a barn owl to nest there. When the owl finally comes, it's a magical experience as she and her grandpa observe the great bird.

The narrative between grandfather and granddaughter is filled with simple facts about barn owls' habits and behavior. Additional information is included in captions around the illustrations.

Michael Foreman's illustrations include both blue-hued large paintings and smaller earth-toned images, all with his trademark spare beauty and detail.

Additional information about nesting boxes for owls and a brief index are included.

Verdict: A beautifully written and lovingly illustrated introduction to barn owls.

ISBN: 978-0763633646; Published April 2007 by Candlewick; Borrowed from the library