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Witchward Bound: A Butter and Owl Adventure
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26From Newbery Honor–winning author Erin Bow, a timeless tale of friendship and magic, delivered in a stunning, collectible package—first in a new series.
Homeward Bound meets The Odyssey with the charm of Studio Ghibli in this instant classic for 8-to-12-year-olds about magical animals on a quest to find their lost witch.
Once upon a time there was a pair of witch's helpers: a cat named Butter and a raven named Owl. The cat knows he is destined to be a great hero—just ask him. The raven wouldn’t recognize destiny if she flew into it beak-first. They do not get along.
But then their witch vanishes, and Butter and Owl must quest to find her. To reunite their family, they’ll have to outwit sirens and cyclops, gods and ghosts—and hardest of all, they’ll have to learn to work together.
Humorous and heartfelt, the story of Butter and Owl’s first adventure shows what it means to be a great hero—and what it takes to be a good friend. With enchanting illustrations by New York Times best-seller Kelly Murphy and sparkling words written by beloved, Newbery Honor–winning author Erin Bow, this tale is a classic in the making—a whimsical, witty, and warm story worthy of reading again and again.
Homeward Bound meets The Odyssey with the charm of Studio Ghibli in this instant classic for 8-to-12-year-olds about magical animals on a quest to find their lost witch.
Once upon a time there was a pair of witch's helpers: a cat named Butter and a raven named Owl. The cat knows he is destined to be a great hero—just ask him. The raven wouldn’t recognize destiny if she flew into it beak-first. They do not get along.
But then their witch vanishes, and Butter and Owl must quest to find her. To reunite their family, they’ll have to outwit sirens and cyclops, gods and ghosts—and hardest of all, they’ll have to learn to work together.
Humorous and heartfelt, the story of Butter and Owl’s first adventure shows what it means to be a great hero—and what it takes to be a good friend. With enchanting illustrations by New York Times best-seller Kelly Murphy and sparkling words written by beloved, Newbery Honor–winning author Erin Bow, this tale is a classic in the making—a whimsical, witty, and warm story worthy of reading again and again.
- GenresMiddle Grade
192 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 1, 2026
About the author
Erin Bow
12 books810 followersTEN THINGS ABOUT ME:
1. I'm a physicist turned poet turned YA novelist.
2. I am world-famous in Canada, which is kind of like being world-famous in real life.
3. I write books for young readers and people like me who didn't grow up. All my books will either will make you either cry on the bus or snort milk out your nose. I am dangerous to your dignity and should be stopped.
4. I needed WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS to have a happy ending, so I wrote a middle-grade book called STAND ON THE SKY
5. I needed a book with a Spock-like hero who was also a queer girl, so I wrote THE SCORPION RULES, and its sequel THE SWAN RIDERS.
6. I think cats can actually talk, but don't find us worthy, hence PLAIN KATE.
7. I hate horror, so I wrote a horror: SORROW'S KNOT,
7. I think Hufflepuff is the best house, Xander was the best Scoobie, Five was the best Doctor, and Spock was the best everything.
8. I am married to another novelist, and we can actually pay our bills. Our daughters want to be scientists.
10. My bookshelves will always be full.
1. I'm a physicist turned poet turned YA novelist.
2. I am world-famous in Canada, which is kind of like being world-famous in real life.
3. I write books for young readers and people like me who didn't grow up. All my books will either will make you either cry on the bus or snort milk out your nose. I am dangerous to your dignity and should be stopped.
4. I needed WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS to have a happy ending, so I wrote a middle-grade book called STAND ON THE SKY
5. I needed a book with a Spock-like hero who was also a queer girl, so I wrote THE SCORPION RULES, and its sequel THE SWAN RIDERS.
6. I think cats can actually talk, but don't find us worthy, hence PLAIN KATE.
7. I hate horror, so I wrote a horror: SORROW'S KNOT,
7. I think Hufflepuff is the best house, Xander was the best Scoobie, Five was the best Doctor, and Spock was the best everything.
8. I am married to another novelist, and we can actually pay our bills. Our daughters want to be scientists.
10. My bookshelves will always be full.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 27, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive an Early Review ARC of Witchward Bound: A Butter and Owl Book from NetGalley. As an educator and a parent with daughters in the target age range, we decided to make it our nightly read-aloud. It quickly became a favorite.
Butter and Owl are wonderfully charming characters, and their quest to find their missing witch makes for a cute twist on the classic hero’s journey. As an educator, I especially appreciated how the story incorporated rich vocabulary. Butter’s word choices and Owl's confusion sparked great conversations, and my daughters and I often paused to talk about the memorable quotes and ideas woven throughout the book from the different characters.
The blend of adventure, imaginative creatures, and thoughtful language made this story both entertaining and meaningful. I would love the opportunity to share it with a 4th or 5th grade class because it offers the perfect mix of fun storytelling and educational value. I will be looking for other books by Erin Bow.
Butter and Owl are wonderfully charming characters, and their quest to find their missing witch makes for a cute twist on the classic hero’s journey. As an educator, I especially appreciated how the story incorporated rich vocabulary. Butter’s word choices and Owl's confusion sparked great conversations, and my daughters and I often paused to talk about the memorable quotes and ideas woven throughout the book from the different characters.
The blend of adventure, imaginative creatures, and thoughtful language made this story both entertaining and meaningful. I would love the opportunity to share it with a 4th or 5th grade class because it offers the perfect mix of fun storytelling and educational value. I will be looking for other books by Erin Bow.
June 1, 2026
I received this ARC from @NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This was a cute little story about a Cat named Butter and a Rave named Owl who have lost their Witch. So they do what every good sidekick does, they go off and a hero’s adventure to find their Witch and bring her home.
I read this story with my 9 year old at bedtime each night. This book is intended for ages 8-12 and at times I felt it leaned more towards the older age.
At different times in the book the characters use fairly complex words for this age group. However, what I love is that after the characters use these words they explain what they mean.
Overall it was a cute book full of fun and adventure and I really enjoyed spending time with my kiddo reading it together.
This was a cute little story about a Cat named Butter and a Rave named Owl who have lost their Witch. So they do what every good sidekick does, they go off and a hero’s adventure to find their Witch and bring her home.
I read this story with my 9 year old at bedtime each night. This book is intended for ages 8-12 and at times I felt it leaned more towards the older age.
At different times in the book the characters use fairly complex words for this age group. However, what I love is that after the characters use these words they explain what they mean.
Overall it was a cute book full of fun and adventure and I really enjoyed spending time with my kiddo reading it together.
Read
April 12, 2026This was delightful! Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC. I will post a more extensive review closer to publication date - but I loved the Odyssey elements that were woven into this magical tale. Butter is a cat and Owl is a Raven. They are familiars to a witch named Penelope. One day, Penelope vanishes. Butter and Owl realize they must go find her -- they are her familiars. They ground her. She needs them! They consult with the goats and receive a Canny Bell which, when sounded, will help guide them. The bell leads them to a boat - the Bright Idea - and so we are off on quite the adventure - a true heroes' quest. I am looking forward to seeing the illustrations!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
A delightful introduction to Homer's The Odyssey with an animal twist, the musical cadence in the sentence structure demands that Witchward Bound be read aloud, as it's full of entertaining exchanges and narration. Wordplay abounds, sometimes falling flat, but it usually succeeds; at times, there's awkward phrasing, which can muddle the suspense, one example being the chapter involving the riff on Odysseus's run-in with the Cyclops. However, running jokes keep the pace fast and fun. Owl lives up to her oxymoronic name and I loved her earnestness and canny, can-do attitude as a foil to Butter's often pompous character (befitting of a cat, of course).
I love the twist on the usual Odyssey, which portrays Penelope as a lone wife at home fending off persistent suitors in her husband's absence. Here, she is a lone witch who nevertheless belongs to a thriving community. Having watched Homeward Bound as a child, it'd have been wonderful to have the third protagonist round off the other two as that film did with Sassy, Chance, and Shadow.
Overall, the book balances a mythic yet humorous tone throughout. There's rarely a lull in the action, which will definitely keep the target audience engaged. I especially loved the whimsicality of the boat, Bright Idea, and the bits explaining its structure as Butter and Owl struggle to sail it.
A delightful introduction to Homer's The Odyssey with an animal twist, the musical cadence in the sentence structure demands that Witchward Bound be read aloud, as it's full of entertaining exchanges and narration. Wordplay abounds, sometimes falling flat, but it usually succeeds; at times, there's awkward phrasing, which can muddle the suspense, one example being the chapter involving the riff on Odysseus's run-in with the Cyclops. However, running jokes keep the pace fast and fun. Owl lives up to her oxymoronic name and I loved her earnestness and canny, can-do attitude as a foil to Butter's often pompous character (befitting of a cat, of course).
I love the twist on the usual Odyssey, which portrays Penelope as a lone wife at home fending off persistent suitors in her husband's absence. Here, she is a lone witch who nevertheless belongs to a thriving community. Having watched Homeward Bound as a child, it'd have been wonderful to have the third protagonist round off the other two as that film did with Sassy, Chance, and Shadow.
Overall, the book balances a mythic yet humorous tone throughout. There's rarely a lull in the action, which will definitely keep the target audience engaged. I especially loved the whimsicality of the boat, Bright Idea, and the bits explaining its structure as Butter and Owl struggle to sail it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Witchward Bound was such a fun and clever read! It's so hard to find children's books for our kids' specific age group (comprehensible enough for 5, but interesting enough for 8), with few enough characters that I don't overwhelm myself while voice acting. And while I did have to read around some of the more punny or technical parts for the sake of the younger one, this was a solid Hi/Lo middle grade read.
If that last sentence was gibberish, I sympathize with you. I've had to learn a whole new language for finding the right kids books. "Middle grade" is the weird place where kids are ready for chapter books and big ideas, but not the language or complexity of YA, while Hi/Lo implies high interest plot for older children, with language and ideas that are accessible to younger ones.
Butter and Owl were both such good characters, with such easily relatable humor and personalities; A neurotic, happy-go-lucky raven, and a fat cat who thinks that while they're equals...he's *slightly* more equal than than she is. Butter's false sense of superiority causes exactly as many issues as one would expect of a cat, while Owl's stark honesty and acceptance both infuriates Butter and helps keep the quest moving along.
Thank you NetGalley and everyone involved for the advance copy, it was a pleasure.
If that last sentence was gibberish, I sympathize with you. I've had to learn a whole new language for finding the right kids books. "Middle grade" is the weird place where kids are ready for chapter books and big ideas, but not the language or complexity of YA, while Hi/Lo implies high interest plot for older children, with language and ideas that are accessible to younger ones.
Butter and Owl were both such good characters, with such easily relatable humor and personalities; A neurotic, happy-go-lucky raven, and a fat cat who thinks that while they're equals...he's *slightly* more equal than than she is. Butter's false sense of superiority causes exactly as many issues as one would expect of a cat, while Owl's stark honesty and acceptance both infuriates Butter and helps keep the quest moving along.
Thank you NetGalley and everyone involved for the advance copy, it was a pleasure.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of WitchWard Bound from NetGalley.
This is a warm, whimsical story for young readers about unlikely friends discovering what it means to be brave. Butter and Owl set off on a gentle adventure filled with humour, small surprises, and light challenges along the way.
The pacing is easy to follow and well suited to children, giving space for the story’s charm and character moments to shine without feeling rushed or overwhelming. At its heart, it’s a story about friendship, courage, and kindness.
Overall, Witchward Bound is a lovely choice for young readers who enjoy gentle fantasy, fun characters, and comforting adventure stories
This is a warm, whimsical story for young readers about unlikely friends discovering what it means to be brave. Butter and Owl set off on a gentle adventure filled with humour, small surprises, and light challenges along the way.
The pacing is easy to follow and well suited to children, giving space for the story’s charm and character moments to shine without feeling rushed or overwhelming. At its heart, it’s a story about friendship, courage, and kindness.
Overall, Witchward Bound is a lovely choice for young readers who enjoy gentle fantasy, fun characters, and comforting adventure stories
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
This was a very enjoyable story which I highly recommend for middle grade readers. It offers adventure, mystery, and humor throughout the entire story. I really enjoy word-play and there is also plenty of that in the story. What the story does really well is reimagine Greek stories with new characters and situations. Butter and Owl are loyal and, although they do not always see eye-to-eye on things, have one another's back when things start to go wrong. This is a great start to what is going to be a great series!
This was a very enjoyable story which I highly recommend for middle grade readers. It offers adventure, mystery, and humor throughout the entire story. I really enjoy word-play and there is also plenty of that in the story. What the story does really well is reimagine Greek stories with new characters and situations. Butter and Owl are loyal and, although they do not always see eye-to-eye on things, have one another's back when things start to go wrong. This is a great start to what is going to be a great series!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rated 4.5 stars (I couldn’t add the half-star here).
This story is so cute, heartwarming and has hints of well-known mythology references. I loved the writing style, which might cause some issues for younger readers, but my well-read 4th grader could easily follow along (the parenthetical breaks to add additional insight is pretty much the way my own brain works). The characters learn important lessons on what it means to work together, how to handle self-doubt and self-criticism in the most wholesome of ways.
This story is so cute, heartwarming and has hints of well-known mythology references. I loved the writing style, which might cause some issues for younger readers, but my well-read 4th grader could easily follow along (the parenthetical breaks to add additional insight is pretty much the way my own brain works). The characters learn important lessons on what it means to work together, how to handle self-doubt and self-criticism in the most wholesome of ways.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Homeward Bound meets the Odyssey in a magical world of witches and familiars. This was such a fun, quick read with cute characters that bring the world to life!
As a teacher I really appreciated the vocabulary that was built into the whole book! There were also some great opportunities for discussing problem solving and social emotional learning as Butter and Owl work through their differences and help each other. This book would make a fantastic read aloud at the elementary level for 3-5th grades and an independent read for students at a higher reading level.
As a teacher I really appreciated the vocabulary that was built into the whole book! There were also some great opportunities for discussing problem solving and social emotional learning as Butter and Owl work through their differences and help each other. This book would make a fantastic read aloud at the elementary level for 3-5th grades and an independent read for students at a higher reading level.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
When a witch leaves her home and doesn't tell her two familiars where she is heading, the two set off on an Odyssey inspired adventure to find her and bring her home. This reminded me a bit of Avi's Poppy and Rye books, but is probably best for elementary school students who enjoyed books like DiCamillo's The Norendy Tales. I did love Bow's Stand on the Sky but will pass on this one for middle school (grades 6-8).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a lot of fun and has occasional funny bits that my daughter, age 12, particularly enjoyed. We tried to read a chapter most nights. It is a retelling of The Odyssey in which the main characters are a talking cat and owl. I thought the introduction of new vocabulary words was very skillful; the cat uses large words and has to explain them to the owl.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I saw there was a snarky cat in this book, and that's all I needed. Butter is full of personality! He and Owl are familiars of a witch who has gone missing. They set out on a quest to find her, vastly over-estimating their skills to do so. They encounter sirens, and a stone monster, in addition to helpful creatures that assist them on their journey.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews