Owl Boy

by Brian Schatell

Al likes owls. And only owls. He doesn't want to play in the sunshine because owls go out at night. He doesn't want to play with friends because owls are solitary. And he doesn't like football, baseball, or basketball because owls don't play sports. When Al's parents make him go to camp, Al is very grumpy . . . until one evening, Al's most extravagant owl fantasy becomes a reality. This funny book about eccentric but endearing Al is a true hoot!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Fiction, Nature, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got this book because my son is currently an "owl boy", but I didn't like how the family (and the author, it seems) thought the boy would do better to like things like sports. Then, in the end, he writes off owls in favour of an obsession with baseball, which happens, but it seems we should all be a bit relieved that he's done with this owl nonsense and doing "normal" stuff now. My kid thought he could've at least kept some of his owl stuff.
Go owl nerds!

[Jschofi4 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Engaging, large illustrations good for showing to large group. Text feels clunky. Plot wasn't great. I didn't like that the boy completely changed what he loved.

[Kalynne]

Date: 02.05.24
Attendees 40
Theme: Owls

Introduction and announcements: Clap Slow Clap Fast by Tom Burnett

Book one: Owl Boy by Brian Schatell

Song/rhyme/game one: Wide-eyed Owl action rhyme

Book two: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

Song/rhyme/game two: Walk and You Walk and You Walk and You Stop! By Rainbow Songs

Book three: I’m Not Cute by Jonathan Allen

Song/ rhyme/ game three: Egg Shaker Song by Mister Q

Activity: Owl coloring pages

[Heba Badr-El-Din · Rating 3 out of 5]

Owl Boy was a very strange story, about a young boy who loved owls so much that he wanted to be one. He didn't want to play outside (during the day) because owls won't. He didn't want to eat meatloaf because owls only eat mice. When his parents send Al to summer camp he did not fit in. Instead of singing campfire songs, would yell "whoo hoo". One night, Al goes adventuring the forest at night like a real owl. Al stats to make owl friends, and when he got hungry and the owl brings Al a mouse to eat. Al tries to eat it, but then realizes that he is not an owl and would much prefer the meatloaf. He starts to eat the meatloaf, sing the campfire songs, and plays outside during the day. A major theme of this book is to be your self and not someone or something that you wish you could be. Al said he never like the human things because owl never did them but when he tried them, he loved them, so another theme would be don't hate on something before you try it for yourself. This book was somewhat disappointing for me. Not only was it just very weird in general but it look at owls in a very negative way toward the end of the book. I wouldn't recommend this book, because I really did not enjoy it.

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Al is obsessed with owls. They dominate his life. He's particularly fascinated with owl facts such as "owls are solitary birds," "owls go out at night," and "owls eat mice." This crimps his style somewhat, as he becomes so focused on this one topic he lets everything else fall by the wayside. When his parents make him go to camp he is less than thrilled. Camp is not a place to be solitary, they discourage night outings, and they serve MEATLOAF. When lost in the woods, Al is befriended by his favorite birds, but he has to draw the line at eating mice. Suddenly his horizons expand. This is a fun book with big, bold illustrations with quirky details. I think most young readers would think this book is a real hoot.

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy is in love with all things owls (as am I!!!). He only thinks about owls...day and night..owls, owls, owls. Then he heads off to camp and meets the owls...will one meal with the owls make him realize being human is not so bad??? This is a cute story about how some times things are not as wonderful as you first thought. 4.0 stars. I love the pictures in this book!!!

[Maggi Rohde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Schatell's art reminds me strongly of Robert Kraus' Owliver, which I adore. The illustrations are better than the story, which leaps too neatly between love and hate. I would never want children to infer that it's a bad thing to obsess about anything in particular. Some outgrow it, others don't, and that's OK.

[Tim Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little boy runs away from camp to join a merry band of owls. Everything is great, until dinnertime that is. . . because owls eat mice. Just imagine that next time you're slurping up some spaghetti. Use your imagination and the power of make believe to turn that noodle into a rodent tail, working it's way into your mouth. Mmmmmmmm.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny! ...but not sure how I feel about sudden reversal of interests. Sure, mice are yucky, but that doesn't seem like the kind of thing that would make a formerly sports-averse kid into a sudden baseball fanatic.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Might be fun for K to use when trying to assess kids passions. I agree with other reviewers that the reversal at the end was not what I've seen with kids who have a passionate obsession. Still I think kids will enjoy it.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In spite of the simple illustrations, the story line amuses me. I love the line, "Owls eat mice" and how Al uses it as an excuse not to eat meat loaf.
This may be reassuring to parents to know that their children will eventually move past such a stage!

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just for fun and a good message too! I laughed out loud.

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

'okay' pictures. concept about being obsessed with a single thing well handled, but a bit over the top.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious!

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, interesting info about owls. For a book involving a boys obsessive-bordering love of nature I much prefer Salamander Room by Anne Mazer.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely silly book about a boy who loves owls a little too much...until one night, he tries to eat like one.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, hello, Gender Binary.