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Lazy Ozzie

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Lazy Ozzie doesn't want to learn to fly, but Ozzie's mother thinks it's time for him to leave the nest, and she tells him he'd better be on the ground by the time she returns. Ozzie is sure that he can fool his mother and find a way to reach the ground without flying. Or is Mother Owl wise to his tricks after all?

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 1994

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67 people want to read

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5 stars
20 (17%)
4 stars
42 (35%)
3 stars
40 (34%)
2 stars
10 (8%)
1 star
5 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Hang.
80 reviews
November 23, 2021
This is a short and humorous story about Ozzie, a young owl. Ozzie is a lazy owlet, who does not want to learn how to fly because it requires him to use too much effort. However, his mom says he must fly to the ground. So instead of learning properly, Ozzie tries to think “smarter” instead of working harder. However, Ozzie didn’t know that his mom was watching his plan of trying to trick his mother. This is a really cute book with a lesson behind it. I liked how the story shows the message that there is often more than one way to go about solving a problem in real life. I would use this book in an early education setting because it was enjoyable and taught sequencing and repetition skills. I think this book would be especially great for kids 5-8. I really liked the illustrations it was a really adorable book.
23 reviews
October 2, 2025
A young owl can't be bothered to practice flying like his mother asks so hitches a ride on progressively smaller animals until he reaches the ground.

Lots of repetition and alliteration, not much pay off. Spelling out that mother owl was watching the whole time deflates all momentum from the punchline (now fly up again!).

And is a silly version of the moral. Even if you aren't caught in the act of cheating you're going to walk yourself into a situation where you're expected to be able to do something you can't.
Profile Image for SaraKat.
1,969 reviews38 followers
February 1, 2018
This book was cute. I read it because it was on the list of books for the pillars of character. It was supposed to illustrate trustworthiness. The title character lies and spends more time and energy on the lie than he would have to just do the task he was set in the first place. Good lesson, and I liked the art. Ozzie is adorable, but the sheepdog's first introduction drawing had me scratching my head as I couldn't tell which part was which! :)
Profile Image for Diane.
7,277 reviews
September 2, 2018
“Ozzie was a very lazy owl.”

He’s so lazy he doesn’t even want to learn to fly because it looks like too much work. But his mother says he must learn and wants him to fly to the ground by the time she gets back. Trying to use wisdom in place of effort, he calls on the different farm animals to help him get to the ground on their backs. But! Little does he know, Mom is watching.

Ozzie is adorably drawn.
Profile Image for Emili Ihm.
24 reviews
June 13, 2024
This book is really cute, it shows young children what happens and what consequences you may receive when you lie about something. It teaches children to try their best instead of lying, because lying gets you no where.
Profile Image for Lily.
37 reviews
January 22, 2023
Read it for CLA

Ngl this is actually relatable🥲🥲🥲
103 reviews
Read
October 5, 2023
This is about a lazy owl whose mother wants him to learn to fly and so the owl finds a way down to the ground from the nest. I would use this to teach the order of events.
Profile Image for Dolly.
Author 1 book671 followers
October 18, 2012
This is a funny little story about an owlet who thinks he is very clever. The narrative is somewhat cumulative and not too long, so younger children will enjoy the repetition. And moms will likely enjoy the fact that his mom had a watchful eye on him the entire time.

I certainly like the way she held him accountable for his actions, that there were consequences for his misbehavior. She still made him do what he was supposed to do in the first place (practice flying), and because he 'cheated' the first time around, flying back up to the nest was sure to be more difficult than flying down to the ground.

Overall, it's an entertaining story and the illustrations are adorable.
12 reviews1 follower
May 8, 2012
Ozzie the young Owl is encouraged by his mother to start to learn how to fly. Ozzie however does not want to learn and devises a plan to trick his mother into thinking he had practiced. Mother Owl has been watching Ozzies plan in action throughout the story and is aware Ozzie has been lying. When asked to show is new learning Ozzie is unable. The moral of the story can be used to show children it is better to learn rather than trying to get out of learning however it also opens up the idea of recognising another skill Ozzie has such as being wise.
2 reviews
March 13, 2012
This is a cute modern fantasy picture book that I would recommend to second graders. In the story a young owl is pressured by his mother to learn how to fly, but he claims he wants to practice being wise. Learn how Lazy Ozzie finds out how to "fly" wisely in this short book. This story is also good at explaining there is often more than one way to solve a problem. Along those lines it could also be used to talk about how there is more than one way to live your life.
Profile Image for Kari.
68 reviews1 follower
February 19, 2013
Ozzie is a very lazy barn owl that does not want to do anything, let alone learn to fly. He comes up with a very clever plan that is sure to get him down to the ground, but that doesn’t seem to get past his mom, who knows just what he did. “Lazy Ozzie” is a great book for a read aloud because students can help tell the story as all the animals are named again and again as the pages are turned. I would use this book to help teach skills like sequencing and repetition.
Profile Image for Sowmya Ramachandran.
4 reviews2 followers
July 28, 2015
Ozzie the owl thinks she's smart by enlisting the help of a series of farm animals to aid in her 'first solo flight'. But what she doesn't realise is mummy owl has been secretly watching her. so does Ozzie succeed in hoodwinking mommy? Cutesy illustrations, repetitions and all the farm animals and their habitats - a good read for the 5+ age kids
Profile Image for Little Miss and the Legomeister.
595 reviews4 followers
June 18, 2011
No, I didn't really like the cutsie illustrations, or Ozzie's roundabout way of getting to the ground, or his retribution at the end. Little Miss says she loved it. I'm starting to question her taste.
Profile Image for Chelsey Combs.
97 reviews2 followers
April 17, 2013
I feel like this book is poorly written. I don't recommend it. It's mainly about a mother wanting to teach her child a lesson, but it's not written well.
Profile Image for Janet.
118 reviews
July 15, 2013
This book has a cute plot and some great phrases. Overall, I wish the text was a little bit tighter. Love the illustrations - so fun for kids to find Mother Owl in each of the spreads.
Profile Image for Karol.
820 reviews20 followers
January 25, 2017
Ozzie works harder at not learning to fly and attempting to out smart his mother.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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