WHITE OWL, BARN OWL

Few children in the U.S. now have access to the open woodlands and grasslands frequented by barn owls, but they can all enjoy the magic of this bird thanks to this lovely introduction. One winter, a grandfather and his small grandchild (with longish hair but undetermined gender) find an owl roost, open owl pellets, install a nest box and watch patiently until spring when they are rewarded with the sight of owls, hunting in their fields and feeding a family in the box they have provided. The quietly lyrical text is accompanied by Foreman’s quietly beautiful illustrations, carefully drawn and painted in textured blues and muted sunset colors, and scientifically accurate except for the oversized moon. Asides, with additional information, are illustrated in browns and printed in a different font, as if they were science notes made by hand. An endnote about nest boxes and a rudimentary index make this useful as well as appealing for the young reader. A worthy companion to Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr’s Caldecott-winning Owl Moon (1987). (Informational picture book. 4-8)