Bears in the Night

Bears in the Night

Stan and Jan Berenstain 1971

An early Berenstain Bears book that teaches direction words.  What happens when a group of bears climb out their window to follow a strange sound?  They go up and down, over, under, around, and through the woods to find a surprise!

Owl Moon

This was one of the first loved books in the Marlowe household.  It came in the mail when Madeleine and Henry were toddlers and our book collection was just starting out.  I have always loved the sparse poetic words, which I read slow and soft.

 Owl Moon

Jane Yolen

illustrated by John Schoenherr 1987

In our own backyard we have an owl, and sometimes late at night, in the tiny upstairs bathroom, you can hear it calling.  I can't explain it, but the sound of an owl, like a far-off train whistle, is at once the most melancholy and comforting of sounds.  In Owl Moon, a nameless father and daughter go out into the snowy woods.  It's cold and quiet while they are calling for an owl.

We walked on. 
I could feel the cold,
as if someone's icy hand
was palm-down on my back.
And my nose
and the tops of my cheeks 
felt cold and hot
at the same time.
But I never said a word.
If you go owling
you have to be quiet
and make your own heat. 

The Owl and the Pussycat

My husband, Chris, and I are off to a Caribbean Island soon.  We've never done this before and I'm very excited to snorkel and lounge on the beach, and mostly to have each other all to ourselves!

The Owl and the Pussycat

Edward Lear

illustrated by Jan Brett 1991

I think I've always loved this poem for its absurd premise (an owl and a pussycat in love) and wonderful rhyming- I'm pretty sure I can recite it by heart. This poem pops up everywhere but this illustrated version is my favorite because Jan Brett's pictures are always a treat. Most of her other books are Nordic in theme so it's fun to have one bright and tropical with palm trees and colorful flowers. As usual, Brett's illustrations tell a couple stories (keep your eye on the yellow fish) and her attention to detail is full of fun.

The Owl looked up to the stars above,

And sang to a small guitar

So they took it away, and were married next day

By the Turkey who lives on the hill.

Owl at Home

Owl at Home (I Can Read Book 2)

Arnold Lobel 1975

This is my favorite Arnold Lobel book, which is really saying something because he has written and illustrated so many great books (don’t worry, of course Frog and Toad will make it on here).

Owl invites Winter in, who proves to be a very poor houseguest. He tries to be upstairs and downstairs at the same time. He sleeps in his chair because of “bumps” in his bed (the kids and I still laugh about this story). He says goodnight to a moon that follows him home and in "Tear-water tea" (the best story) he fills his teapot by thinking about sad things that make him cry- chairs with broken legs, spoons that have fallen behind the stove, books that cannot be read because some of the pages have been torn out.  I don't know why, but I love the very last lines: 

 Owl felt happy as he filled his cup.  "It tastes a little bit salty," he said, "but tear-water tea is always very good."

Owl Babies

We have an owl in our woods. Late at night in the wintertime I’ve heard him hooting. One night a couple years ago I was in our upstairs bathroom and I opened the window and hooted back. It was a funny thing to have a “conversation” with an owl at 2 o’clock in the morning!

Owl Babies

Martin Waddell 1992

illustrated by Patrick Benson

The three baby owls in this book were very quickly renamed Madeleine, Henry and Charlotte.

I especially love the rich full page illustrations.