Official Review: Why Can't the Owl Sleep? by Cynthia Baker

[gali]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Why Can't the Owl Sleep?" by Cynthia Baker.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Why Can't the Owl Sleep? By author/illustrator Cynthia Baker is an awesome children's book that focuses on nature. The natural world is fascinating and often kids don’t know just how incredible the world around them is. Reading books such as this will enhance our children's awareness for the environment and all that live in it.

This story is poetically written with steady rhythm and rhyme, and illustrated beautifully. While telling the story of the owl, the book also introduces the various birds and animals that live in the forest.

This is a story about a great horned owl that has hunted all night long. Toward morning he is looking forward to a well-deserved sleep. However, when he tries to get some sleep, his sleep gets interrupted over and over by the noises animals are making in the wood; Birds call, Chickadee loudly sings, a great blue heron squawks, and a chipmunk chatters and squeaks, you get the idea. Will our poor owl manage to get his rest?

The book tells not only the story of the owl, but of other animals as well. The book is divided into brief poems. Each poem introduces a different animal and the poems are narrated from the first point of view of the animal. The animals tell about themselves and their habits. We learn that the owl is a bird of prey, the Chickadee's food is caterpillars, bugs and seeds, skunk stinks when threatened, Blue Jay loves acorns, the porcupine is a vegetarian, the deer is afraid of the fox, and the beaver is a powerful swimmer. This is a great way to teach kids about nature, animals and the food chain.

The book is balanced, entertaining, and chock full of fascinating facts for kids. I found the illustrations to be particularly wonderful, though they were black and white on my kindle. For the illustrations alone, I think this is a great book. Add to this an entraining storyline, and you have a winning combination!

The book has a natural, flowing style and the vocabulary is rich. The plot is relatively simple and suited for younger readers ages 3-7. It is perfect for a children's bedtime story. The language used is appropriate for young readers or for a preschooler read-aloud. Kids will enjoy the story and will learn that animals have feelings as well. It was a sweet and fun read, so I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. It's one of those books where the adult and the child are equally engaged.

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Why Can't the Owl Sleep?
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[bookowlie]

I enjoyed reading your review! Judging from the cover alone, the book is illustrated beautifully. This looks like a great book for young children. They can learn about something about each animal in addition to the noises they make. I even learned something from your review, that deer are afraid of foxes!

[Jesska6029]

A lot of children are too preooccupied by technology, but this book seems like it could be a great tool to get younger children in touch with nature. I truly enjoyed the review!

[gali]

Thank you both

[PashaRu]

Thanks for a great review gali! Sounds like a charming book, with quite a bit going for it! I like the first-person poetry aspect.

[gali]

Thanks for a great review gali! Sounds like a charming book, with quite a bit going for it! I like the first-person poetry aspect.

Thank you and it is

[zeldas_lullaby]

Great review!

This book sounds educational and pretty!

[gali]

Great review!

This book sounds educational and pretty!

Thank you

[Rachaelamb1]

Sounds like a great book for getting children interested in exploring nature!

[gali]

Sounds like a great book for getting children interested in exploring nature!

It is.

[Stevefromtheblock]

Seems like a fun book! Nice review!

[gali]

Seems like a fun book! Nice review!

Thank you.

[bluemel4]

I really enjoyed reading your review. You made the entire book come alive without giving away too much.

[gali]

I really enjoyed reading your review. You made the entire book come alive without giving away too much.

Thank you

[Amheiser]

This sounds like a really cute idea for a storybook for young children. I like that it is written in poetry. I think that is a very helpful way for children to learn to read by learning words that rhyme with each other. I also like that the animals talk about themselves and teach children about themselves, right from the animal's mouth, so to speak. Great review!