librarylisa614's review against another edition
5.0
Hilarious, great bold illustrations, and ornate language... not sure my littles will get it, but worth a try!
mat_tobin's review against another edition
5.0
There is so much that I adore about this little picturebook. I like the compact, almost square size which is a little unusual in picturebooks as well as the little owl himself who's like a little painted egg with overly large eggs and a tiny, rather insignificant-looking beak. The book as a whole is near-perfect in terms of picturebook format with a mutual (and I would say respectful) balance between words and pictures. Sean Taylor is an accomplished writer and illustrates himself but I am overjoyed that it was Jean Jullien's who illustrated this book (please visit his instagram site). Neither artist or illustrator steal the limelight. Instead, there is a respected partnership.
The first page introducing Hoot Owl, as he peeks from the bottom right corner of the page to warn the reader of an impending attack is humorous in itself and is an insight, perhaps, into the almost Milne-esque approach to this character. Here we have, as Hoot tells us, an owl who is known to be wise yet throughout the book, he over-complicates his methods for hunting his foes, taking an almost Looney Tunes approach to ensnaring, and failing, in the capture of his meals through various over-the-top disguises (much to the amusement of his prey).
The book is a series of lovely, dark double-page spreads with Hoot Owl swooping through the night (as black as burnt toast) 'as quick as a shooting star' and 'like a wolf in the air'. As the story progresses, his disguises and methods of trying to catch the various animals as well as the language used to describe his movement from page to page become more absurd and nonsensical yet remain within an effortlessly poetic repeating rhythm with Hoot Owl constantly swooping to the right inviting us to turn the page just as the text does: Text and image working together in harmony :)
The fact that the only prey he manages to capture using his various disguises happens to be an italian-sausage-flavoured pizza only adds to the humour and joy of the story. (It seems that no animals, not even Hoot Owl's self-esteem) were harmed during the making of this book.
Hoot Owl is wholly endearing in his language and appearance: how anyone could not find his 'ornamental birdbath' disguise hilarious would be beyond me. More Hoot Owl adventures please!
The first page introducing Hoot Owl, as he peeks from the bottom right corner of the page to warn the reader of an impending attack is humorous in itself and is an insight, perhaps, into the almost Milne-esque approach to this character. Here we have, as Hoot tells us, an owl who is known to be wise yet throughout the book, he over-complicates his methods for hunting his foes, taking an almost Looney Tunes approach to ensnaring, and failing, in the capture of his meals through various over-the-top disguises (much to the amusement of his prey).
The book is a series of lovely, dark double-page spreads with Hoot Owl swooping through the night (as black as burnt toast) 'as quick as a shooting star' and 'like a wolf in the air'. As the story progresses, his disguises and methods of trying to catch the various animals as well as the language used to describe his movement from page to page become more absurd and nonsensical yet remain within an effortlessly poetic repeating rhythm with Hoot Owl constantly swooping to the right inviting us to turn the page just as the text does: Text and image working together in harmony :)
The fact that the only prey he manages to capture using his various disguises happens to be an italian-sausage-flavoured pizza only adds to the humour and joy of the story. (It seems that no animals, not even Hoot Owl's self-esteem) were harmed during the making of this book.
Hoot Owl is wholly endearing in his language and appearance: how anyone could not find his 'ornamental birdbath' disguise hilarious would be beyond me. More Hoot Owl adventures please!
shighley's review
3.0
Saw this on a "Best of 2015" list, and was able to check out the narrated eBook from the public library. I agree that the illustrations are striking, and parts are funny, but I didn't really find it that original.
pwbalto's review against another edition
5.0
The drama! The danger! The imagery! "The night has a thousand eyes, and two of them are mine. I swoop through the bleak blackness like a wolf in the air." You couple that with adorable roundy-cutie rough-hewn art and that is a SLAM DUNK.
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
4.0
Great mentor text for metaphor and simile.
Great book to make you smile at hoot owl - I thought the book was going to be showing how an owl finds and stalks its prey, but instead its a humorous story that will make you laugh at the silly hoot owl and his disguises and his ability to not give up. Even when things don't work out as planned.
Great book to make you smile at hoot owl - I thought the book was going to be showing how an owl finds and stalks its prey, but instead its a humorous story that will make you laugh at the silly hoot owl and his disguises and his ability to not give up. Even when things don't work out as planned.
heisereads's review against another edition
4.0
More humor than I expected from this story. Cute, funny, repeated phrasing will engage younger kids.
trixie_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I read this to two preschool classes, 2 young fives classes, and 3 kindergarten classes today. They all liked it, but it went over best in the kindergarten classes. The preschoolers looked rather alarmed when the owl was planning to eat the bunny and the lamb.
k_b00kish's review against another edition
3.0
Hungry owl who disguises himself in a variety of costumes to acquire food