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Owls: Our Most Charming Bird
An enchanting illustrated guide to owl species of the world.
In this beautiful and highly giftable art book, artist and ornithologist Matt Sewell captures 50 species of the world's most evocative bird: the owl. Using pop-art watercolors and accompanied by witty and irreverent descriptions, Sewell expresses the individual characters of owls as never before. From tiny elf owls to huge Eurasian eagle owls, from the haunting barn owl to the elegant great horned owl, these wise, magical birds are otherworldly in their striking colors and stature. It's not just birdwatchers who are obsessed: Owls are a perennial favorite in pop culture, decorating, and among children as well as nature lovers and serious birders. From David Sedaris's Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls to Harry Potter's pet Hedwig, and throwback interest in Twin Peaks (which is returning to TV in 2016) and its trademark spooky owls, these birds are here to stay.
In this beautiful and highly giftable art book, artist and ornithologist Matt Sewell captures 50 species of the world's most evocative bird: the owl. Using pop-art watercolors and accompanied by witty and irreverent descriptions, Sewell expresses the individual characters of owls as never before. From tiny elf owls to huge Eurasian eagle owls, from the haunting barn owl to the elegant great horned owl, these wise, magical birds are otherworldly in their striking colors and stature. It's not just birdwatchers who are obsessed: Owls are a perennial favorite in pop culture, decorating, and among children as well as nature lovers and serious birders. From David Sedaris's Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls to Harry Potter's pet Hedwig, and throwback interest in Twin Peaks (which is returning to TV in 2016) and its trademark spooky owls, these birds are here to stay.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published November 13, 2014
13 people are currently reading
904 people want to read
About the author
Matt Sewell
18 books72 followersArtist and illustrator Matt Sewell has been described as the Banksy of the bird world. Matt works in a variety of media including T-shirts, posters, interiors, sculptures and walls. He has illustrated for the Guardian and Barbour, amongst many others; painted underpasses for the RSPB; and exhibited in London, Manchester, New York, Tokyo and Paris, as well as being an avid ornithologist and regular contributor to the Caught by The River website (he also designed their logo).
His bird books, Our Garden Birds, Our Woodland Birds, A Charm of Goldfinches and many more, have taken the world by storm. He has also illustrated numerous children’s books including The Big Bird Spot, Dinosaurs and Forgotten Beasts. His latest book for children is Atlas of Amazing Birds.
Matt lives in Shrewsbury with his partner and two children.
His bird books, Our Garden Birds, Our Woodland Birds, A Charm of Goldfinches and many more, have taken the world by storm. He has also illustrated numerous children’s books including The Big Bird Spot, Dinosaurs and Forgotten Beasts. His latest book for children is Atlas of Amazing Birds.
Matt lives in Shrewsbury with his partner and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
October 31, 2025
Absolutely adorable - loved it from cover to cover!
This book was fabulous!
Matt Sewell goes through all of the owl breeds scattered throughout the world and provides little snippets into their species.
His off-the-cuff humor was perfect for this quirky book.
So many books about owls end up being chock-full of facts that (while interesting) tend to be a bit dry. Thankfully, this was never the case in Sewell's book.
To be honest, owls aren’t the brightest of birds, amazing as they are; parrots and crows are much smarter.Each owl described was accompanied by a simplistically beautiful and vibrant watercolor - the way he captured the personality of these birds in just a few strokes of his brush was truly magnificent.
I loved how he talked about the common myths accompanied with owl breeds - it really made the book fun and exciting!
It’s all in the eyes: those magnificent piercing optics are what make all owls look like they are deep in concentrated scrutiny and steeped in long-lost knowledgeDefinitely a fabulous book to pick up for the owl lover in your life!
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December 14, 2019
Reread for group challenge
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
This is the cutest little book. The drawings are so sweet and the little bits of information and whit from the author are very interesting! I didn't know there were that many owl species, although I'm sure there are a lot more than listed in this book!
I'm going to add a picture of one of the owls in the book, then a few different real owl pictures and some facts from the book about that owl
Above is the Northern Saw-Whet Owl from the book, isn't that a precious little picture? They are all like that in the book. I wish I could draw like that! Below, is a picture of the same owl in real life.
The Northern Saw-Whet Owl is one of the smallest owls in North America
Next: Ural Owl
The book says the Ural Owl is in the Ural mountain forests and Siberian steppes. They are known as one of the the toughest owls around!
Next: Greater Sooty Owl
I think this owl is just beautiful! The book says this goth Barn Owl is not dangerous in any way--except to the small rodents and bugs that he stalks through the eucalyptus forests of northern Australia, his jet-black wizard's cloak contrasting brilliantly with his white markings, shining as bright as the stars of the southern hemisphere.
I like some of the descriptions in this book :)
Next: Snowy Owl
I couldn't leave this owl out... Harry Potter... anyway, the book states, a monarch of the tundra, the Snowy Owl is a whopper, close to an eagle-owl in height and hunting prowess, feeding upon lemmings, ptarmigans, and other winter fare by snatching her prey with her massive moonboots. To protect against the cruel temperatures of the arctic, her feet are ensconced in thick feathers, styled in a brilliance of frosted white.
I loved this little book of owls. I loved the drawings and being able to google the real owl and seeing how brilliant they truly are and I would recommend this for any owl lover. I might have to get one for my cousin that loves owls, but she can look up all of the real owls herself! :)
*I would like to thank BLOGGING FOR BOOKS for a print copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
This is the cutest little book. The drawings are so sweet and the little bits of information and whit from the author are very interesting! I didn't know there were that many owl species, although I'm sure there are a lot more than listed in this book!
I'm going to add a picture of one of the owls in the book, then a few different real owl pictures and some facts from the book about that owl
Above is the Northern Saw-Whet Owl from the book, isn't that a precious little picture? They are all like that in the book. I wish I could draw like that! Below, is a picture of the same owl in real life.
The Northern Saw-Whet Owl is one of the smallest owls in North America
Next: Ural Owl
The book says the Ural Owl is in the Ural mountain forests and Siberian steppes. They are known as one of the the toughest owls around!
Next: Greater Sooty Owl
I think this owl is just beautiful! The book says this goth Barn Owl is not dangerous in any way--except to the small rodents and bugs that he stalks through the eucalyptus forests of northern Australia, his jet-black wizard's cloak contrasting brilliantly with his white markings, shining as bright as the stars of the southern hemisphere.
I like some of the descriptions in this book :)
Next: Snowy Owl
I couldn't leave this owl out... Harry Potter... anyway, the book states, a monarch of the tundra, the Snowy Owl is a whopper, close to an eagle-owl in height and hunting prowess, feeding upon lemmings, ptarmigans, and other winter fare by snatching her prey with her massive moonboots. To protect against the cruel temperatures of the arctic, her feet are ensconced in thick feathers, styled in a brilliance of frosted white.
I loved this little book of owls. I loved the drawings and being able to google the real owl and seeing how brilliant they truly are and I would recommend this for any owl lover. I might have to get one for my cousin that loves owls, but she can look up all of the real owls herself! :)
*I would like to thank BLOGGING FOR BOOKS for a print copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
September 20, 2017
I found out about this book after another little illustrated treasure was recommended to me a few days ago. It's a little book that doesn't hold a wealth of scientific information (which is also due to the fact that it is for children, mostly) but it gives a nice overview over where certain owl types live and what they are known for (lore or physical trades).
The great thing about this book, however, are the charming illustrations. Lovely throughout and certainly displaying an owl's physical appearance as much as some character traits, they are wonderful to look at.
Not to mention the humour the author sometimes included in the descriptions:
This book is for all if us who just love owls 🦉 and celebrate the incredible variety of them. There even is a little list with all of them in the back where one can note which one has been observed in real-life!
The great thing about this book, however, are the charming illustrations. Lovely throughout and certainly displaying an owl's physical appearance as much as some character traits, they are wonderful to look at.
Not to mention the humour the author sometimes included in the descriptions:
This book is for all if us who just love owls 🦉 and celebrate the incredible variety of them. There even is a little list with all of them in the back where one can note which one has been observed in real-life!
April 23, 2020
An absolutely adorable book. This is not so much a classic owl-spotters' field-guide but a collection of wonderful drawings of various members of the owl family accompanied by short descriptive texts and the odd interesting side-fact. I have a new favourite owl after reading this.
September 13, 2015
This short introduction to the owl world is highlighted by truly wonderful watercolor illustrations of each of the owls discussed. There are more than I imagined existed, not being a birder at all. But who doesn't like looking at the face of an owl!
Amid the whimsical (some might say occasionally sophomoric) humor, there are interesting facts about the world of owls, their physiology and anatomy and hunting habits. Each is located geographically and compared to its brethren.
At first I was unsure as to the intended audience for the book but then realized that was due to the author's sense of humor. This would be appropriate for early teens through adults. This is a light-hearted bird book, specializing in owls, with very nice illustrations. I think you will know quickly if this is the book for you or someone you know. It is both informative and attractive. I do recommend it for the birding audience and for nature lovers.
A pictorial checklist of all the owls discussed in the book is included at the end so that interested birdwatchers can use it in the owl-scoping.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.
Amid the whimsical (some might say occasionally sophomoric) humor, there are interesting facts about the world of owls, their physiology and anatomy and hunting habits. Each is located geographically and compared to its brethren.
At first I was unsure as to the intended audience for the book but then realized that was due to the author's sense of humor. This would be appropriate for early teens through adults. This is a light-hearted bird book, specializing in owls, with very nice illustrations. I think you will know quickly if this is the book for you or someone you know. It is both informative and attractive. I do recommend it for the birding audience and for nature lovers.
A pictorial checklist of all the owls discussed in the book is included at the end so that interested birdwatchers can use it in the owl-scoping.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.
April 2, 2017
As I started reading this book, the first thing I wondered was who it's intended for. Kids? Adults? Birders? Owl people? Halfway through, I determined it's a fairly large audience, but definitely not for kids. I think it's probably best as an intro to owls, or as a fun, non-scientific book for owl lovers.
The best part was, of course, the illustrations. These are all watercolor paintings of different owls and they're quite lovely. The drawings are paired with short, mostly whimsical descriptions. I actually found the descriptions a little inconsistent. Some were full of facts (though still written in a fun way), while others were just kind of silly.
One of my favorite descriptions was the Dusky Eagle-Owl - this is an owl from India and Sewell described it in very Indian terms, which really made me laugh.
Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The best part was, of course, the illustrations. These are all watercolor paintings of different owls and they're quite lovely. The drawings are paired with short, mostly whimsical descriptions. I actually found the descriptions a little inconsistent. Some were full of facts (though still written in a fun way), while others were just kind of silly.
One of my favorite descriptions was the Dusky Eagle-Owl - this is an owl from India and Sewell described it in very Indian terms, which really made me laugh.
Here, escaping the hullabaloo, he and his good wife reside all year round and take tiffin at dusk, consisting of the local avifauna. Sounds pukka.Overall, this was a fun book. I read it in ebook format so I really wonder what the actual book looks like. Often, art books are much better in tangible form than in ebook.
Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2015
I LOVE owls!! Quite obsessed with the little winged creatures. When I saw this book offered on Blogging for Books I couldn't believe my good fortune. Thankfully, I was lucky enough to snag a beautiful copy. Not disappointed either. It's such an adorable book for all ages. Artist Matt Sewell does an amazing job of bringing each owl species alive in vibrant watercolors. From Woodland Owls, Tropical Owls, Wilderness Owls to Desert Owls, who knew there were so many different varieties?! This charming book covers all four categories of owl and each category has individual pictures of the different owls, each with a short description. You'll get to know forty-seven magnificent, cunning birds of prey. If you love owls as much as I do, you will treasure this stunning little book of owls of every kind. If you're interested in seeing a few pics inside the book, to give you an idea, visit my blog for a peek. I provide a bit more info there. http://maryeve.booklikes.com
Matt Sewell is an ornithologist, regular contributor to the Caught by the River website, and the author of several other illustrated bird books. His work has been exhibited in London, New York, Tokyo, and Paris.
*Thanks to Blogging for Books for sending me this lovely ARC. Opinions are my own.
Matt Sewell is an ornithologist, regular contributor to the Caught by the River website, and the author of several other illustrated bird books. His work has been exhibited in London, New York, Tokyo, and Paris.
*Thanks to Blogging for Books for sending me this lovely ARC. Opinions are my own.
March 21, 2017
Utterly charming! I picked this up in the equally charming Bookies bookstore in Denver, and knew I had to buy it!
Lovely watercolors of owls (definitely our most charming bird!) are coupled with the name of each owl, both common and Latin, and a brief description of their habitat and habits. This is by no means a scientific book, however. Facts about the owls include which ones appear to be judging you for wearing that jacket again, and which are the cutest. A must have for owl enthusiasts!
Lovely watercolors of owls (definitely our most charming bird!) are coupled with the name of each owl, both common and Latin, and a brief description of their habitat and habits. This is by no means a scientific book, however. Facts about the owls include which ones appear to be judging you for wearing that jacket again, and which are the cutest. A must have for owl enthusiasts!
May 1, 2017
I have kind of mixed feelings about this. On one hand, the watercolours of the owls were lovely, just what I was hoping for. However I went into this expecting to learn more about owls, but most of the text that went along with the pictures was mixed. Some included facts, but as the book progressed most were kind of jokey descriptions of how the owls act or look.
I will probably check out his other books on birds, but I wouldn't rush to recommend this to anyone except people who really love cute pictures of owls!
I will probably check out his other books on birds, but I wouldn't rush to recommend this to anyone except people who really love cute pictures of owls!
September 16, 2023
owls just hit different
June 4, 2025
Very cute drawings and often funny descriptions of owls from around the world.
Read
November 7, 2022A delightful little book, filled with lovely watercolour illustrations of each owl.
July 17, 2015
This review is based on an ARC copy provided by NetGalley.
The illustrations are whimsical and cute, but the descriptive snippets about each owl are very inconsistent. Some of them are fairly informative, but others are these weird anthropomorphic metaphors that don't seem to fit with the rest. Most of the snippets though were short descriptions of how the owl looks, which is completely redundant when placed next to a picture of the bird.
Very nice watercolor illustrations, but no real information or incites into these lovely creatures.
The illustrations are whimsical and cute, but the descriptive snippets about each owl are very inconsistent. Some of them are fairly informative, but others are these weird anthropomorphic metaphors that don't seem to fit with the rest. Most of the snippets though were short descriptions of how the owl looks, which is completely redundant when placed next to a picture of the bird.
Very nice watercolor illustrations, but no real information or incites into these lovely creatures.
February 23, 2018
Fascinating and enchanting. I had no idea there were so many different types of owls.
August 16, 2020
Not the large picture-book I was expecting, this is about the size of your tablet. It could be consumed in little over an hour, but I chose to savor it a few pages at a time. Each owl is given a watercolor portrait on one page with accompanying description on the facing page. I'm not sure I would call owls charming, but it is exactly the right description of this book. The writing is succinct and humorous, and you may pick up a few facts about owls along the way. Here is the author's description of Harry Potter's tawny owls: "Not that I'm saying that the Tawny is scruffy; it's just that he looks like he fell asleep and fell out of his tree into a big pile of leaves, and bumbled on his day without sprucing himself back up again." And I had no idea that the owl of Athena was such a, well, "Little" Owl. The owls are grouped by habitat: woodland, tropical, wilderness, and desert. I might have prefered them grouped by continent or subspecies, at least in an index, but there are other books for that.
Book description: The owl is one of nature’s most captivating creatures. In this enchanting guide, artist Matt Sewell brings to life fifty species from around the world. From the adorable Eurasian Pygmy Owl, small enough to fit in your pocket, to the Great Gray Owl, celebrated for its size and elegance—these charming illustrations are sure to delight anyone intrigued by these wise and wonderful animals.
Book description: The owl is one of nature’s most captivating creatures. In this enchanting guide, artist Matt Sewell brings to life fifty species from around the world. From the adorable Eurasian Pygmy Owl, small enough to fit in your pocket, to the Great Gray Owl, celebrated for its size and elegance—these charming illustrations are sure to delight anyone intrigued by these wise and wonderful animals.
September 25, 2015
This original and lighthearted book would find a welcome home on the shelf of anyone who loves birds, or anyone who likes the off-beat.
Matt Sewell has produced an amusing gem of a book with quirky watercolor pictures and tongue-in-cheek descriptions of several of the world's owl species. Of the Great Gray Owl, he says "with a head like a geodesic dome inhabited by a bunch of strung out hippies, the Great Gray Owl looks like he's been hanging out with these guys for some time." And the Eurasian Pygmy Owl is delightfully described as one who "bumbles around the woods hunting birds twice his size, like a pocket-sized politician after a liquid lunch."
Although this is more entertainment than field guide, you'll still walk away learning a few things (chuckling all the while).
Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Matt Sewell has produced an amusing gem of a book with quirky watercolor pictures and tongue-in-cheek descriptions of several of the world's owl species. Of the Great Gray Owl, he says "with a head like a geodesic dome inhabited by a bunch of strung out hippies, the Great Gray Owl looks like he's been hanging out with these guys for some time." And the Eurasian Pygmy Owl is delightfully described as one who "bumbles around the woods hunting birds twice his size, like a pocket-sized politician after a liquid lunch."
Although this is more entertainment than field guide, you'll still walk away learning a few things (chuckling all the while).
Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2015
4 stars. This book is so cute! Each page featured adorable artwork of a certain kind of owl along with a short paragraph introducing the bird to the reader. It's not your sit-down-and-read kind of book, but it's a lot of fun to flip through. It really is darling. If you know someone who loves owls, this would be the perfect gift!
I was sent a copy of this book from BloggingForBooks in exchange for an honest review.
I was sent a copy of this book from BloggingForBooks in exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2017
This book is absolutely amazing!!! The illustrations are fabulous and there are also tons of useful and accurate descriptions of the owls. I'm a wildlife rehabilitator and I work with owls all the time so this book is a tiny little gem for me. The painted illustrations are really what make the book though. The only downside is that there aren't nearly enough owls included! Particularly the Screech Owl!!! Matt Sewell where is my Screech Owl?!? But seriously there is nothing I can really complain about when it comes to this book. It's adorable. There is even a section in the back to mark off the owls you've seen. It's charming and perfect.
March 5, 2022
Fine illustration, but lazy texts with just a couple of interesting facts. Includes offensive and racist stereotypes, as Sewell compares owls to different kind of people. The Finnish translation uses old, offensive (read: racist) terms as well as misleading place namrs - Jamaica is obviosly in the Caribbean, not in West-India (a geographical name not used in Finnish anymore).
February 10, 2017
Matt'in bıcır bıcır kuşları, hepsi birbirinden güzel! Bu seferkinin ön sözünde bana da teşekkür etmiş, mutlu oldum.
September 21, 2020
This book is more focused on vivid and flowery prose and illustrations rather than science factoids. Speaking of the art, I was a bit disappointed that one of my favorite owls - the Burrowing Owl - didn’t get a full-body illustration like all the others. I get the creative angle behind it, but.... just a head? It comes across as plain lazy. But I digress. It’s also hard to tell who the target audience is. The brief snippets of description that often border on completely informal in tone make this book geared at a younger crowd, but certain cultural references pop up from time to time that only a well-rounded adult would understand. So I often questioned: who was this written for? At least I enjoyed it as a little art project by and for owl/bird enthusiasts, which is honestly the only people I would recommend this book to.
April 5, 2018
A delightful and enjoyable little book for any owl lover! The watercolor illustrations were my favorite part. I appreciated the author's often humorous and poetic descriptions/personifications of each owl, however, I did not "agree" with his personal views of some of them. For example, on page 106 he describes the Great Horned Owl as "demonic", whereas I would describe this great creature as majestic or perhaps fierce. I would have also enjoyed a few more scientific facts, but overall this was a really fun and enjoyable quick read. Many thanks to my friend who recommended it!
August 28, 2017
Wonderful illustrations but I would have loved the texts to be more like little stories or "fun;facts" instead of scientific facts mixed with talking about the English name of the owl.
December 25, 2017
S’cute and great artwork. I love owls.
January 24, 2020
Absolutely beautiful little book
December 3, 2020
Super cute and has an ID section at back for owl spotting on the go!
January 19, 2024
3.5 rather silly but charming
March 31, 2017
This is such a sweet book! The illustrations are beautiful and delicate, the accompany text both charming and funny. Even if I wasn't biased towards the subject matter I think I'd still have enjoyed it. There's just something captivating about flipping through each page, admiring the art and learning a little tidbit about each species (and getting a laugh out of most pages, too.)
May 15, 2020
This book was easy and enjoyable to read, and made me want to learn more about these fascinating creatures. Each page is very neat and succinct without a long, laborious description of each specimen.
I thought that the illustrations made this book even more informative, and you could imagine each owl flying from tree to tree. I absolutely loved the illustration on page 13, it is eye catching and stunning.
I would definitely recommend this book to any avid animal lovers, or to anyone who likes a reference book.
I thought that the illustrations made this book even more informative, and you could imagine each owl flying from tree to tree. I absolutely loved the illustration on page 13, it is eye catching and stunning.
I would definitely recommend this book to any avid animal lovers, or to anyone who likes a reference book.
November 8, 2015
My thoughts: In Owls Our Most Charming Bird by Matt Sewell there is a charming array of these nocturnal birds of prey. The book is a sort-of spot-on treatise on the individual owls with a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor. The illustrations are quirky and factual. Folks, let’s think “Audubon with a sense of humor.”
Frankly, I really like the book and learned quite a bit about these birds both large and small. I had no way of knowing prior to this little book that there was such a variety of these birds.
The sizes of owls range from the Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) on page 70 which is huge to the tiniest Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi) on page 100. There are some interesting facts about where in the world the owls live, their how the look (size, feathers, eyes, etc.) and how they pursue their prey - they are hunters, you know.
As I said earlier, the author and illustrator, Matt Sewell, brings his sense of humor to the book as he deftly illustrates each of these owls bringing them to life with his watercolors. Then he describes them with quirky bits of information that will sometimes tickle your funny bone!
Who is this little book for? Well, I can see my grandchildren (preteens and older) enjoying it. I can also see anyone who is a birder enjoying it since it brings the light side of birding to them. I can also see it placed on a coffee table for folks to just sit and read a page or two here and there. If you’re not already an owl lover, you just might get converted.
At the back is a “Spotting and Jotting” section where each owl is again pictured with a checkbox; so as you find the owls, you can check them off and maybe even make a short note about the owl.
I love it and I recommend it. This will make a great little gift for a birder or anyone who just likes owls.
I captured this owl image from Matt Sewell's Twitter post. Aren't they cute.
About the book: An enchanting illustrated guide to owl species of the world.
In this beautiful and highly giftable art book, artist and ornithologist Matt Sewell captures 50 species of the world's most evocative bird: the owl. Using pop-art watercolors and accompanied by witty and irreverent descriptions, Sewell expresses the individual characters of owls as never before. From tiny elf owls to huge Eurasian eagle owls, from the haunting barn owl to the elegant great horned owl, these wise, magical birds are otherworldly in their striking colors and stature. It's not just birdwatchers who are obsessed: Owls are a perennial favorite in pop culture, decorating, and among children as well as nature lovers and serious birders. From David Sedaris's Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls to Harry Potter's pet Hedwig, and throwback interest in Twin Peaks (which is returning to TV in 2016) and its trademark spooky owls, these birds are here to stay.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the Blogging for Books program to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Frankly, I really like the book and learned quite a bit about these birds both large and small. I had no way of knowing prior to this little book that there was such a variety of these birds.
The sizes of owls range from the Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) on page 70 which is huge to the tiniest Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi) on page 100. There are some interesting facts about where in the world the owls live, their how the look (size, feathers, eyes, etc.) and how they pursue their prey - they are hunters, you know.
As I said earlier, the author and illustrator, Matt Sewell, brings his sense of humor to the book as he deftly illustrates each of these owls bringing them to life with his watercolors. Then he describes them with quirky bits of information that will sometimes tickle your funny bone!
Who is this little book for? Well, I can see my grandchildren (preteens and older) enjoying it. I can also see anyone who is a birder enjoying it since it brings the light side of birding to them. I can also see it placed on a coffee table for folks to just sit and read a page or two here and there. If you’re not already an owl lover, you just might get converted.
At the back is a “Spotting and Jotting” section where each owl is again pictured with a checkbox; so as you find the owls, you can check them off and maybe even make a short note about the owl.
I love it and I recommend it. This will make a great little gift for a birder or anyone who just likes owls.
I captured this owl image from Matt Sewell's Twitter post. Aren't they cute.
About the book: An enchanting illustrated guide to owl species of the world.
In this beautiful and highly giftable art book, artist and ornithologist Matt Sewell captures 50 species of the world's most evocative bird: the owl. Using pop-art watercolors and accompanied by witty and irreverent descriptions, Sewell expresses the individual characters of owls as never before. From tiny elf owls to huge Eurasian eagle owls, from the haunting barn owl to the elegant great horned owl, these wise, magical birds are otherworldly in their striking colors and stature. It's not just birdwatchers who are obsessed: Owls are a perennial favorite in pop culture, decorating, and among children as well as nature lovers and serious birders. From David Sedaris's Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls to Harry Potter's pet Hedwig, and throwback interest in Twin Peaks (which is returning to TV in 2016) and its trademark spooky owls, these birds are here to stay.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the Blogging for Books program to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
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