LOVE YOU HOO

A proud parent speaks of hopes and dreams for a young child.

In rhyming lines that do not shy away from cliché, the parent owl takes great satisfaction in introducing an owlet to the world: “We’ll never stop exploring, / There’s so much to see and do. / Now you’re here, there’s ALWAYS more / I’m looking forward to.” This sentiment is illustrated with a scene of the two owls flying over a landscape dotted with signposts; a flag on a mountain signals: “Top of the World.” A bay with two tall-masted ships and a whale’s tail is labeled “Wonderful Adventures.” “Going with the flow” is lettered on a sign alongside a river. Although many of the parent-child experiences center on flying, the natural activity of birds, there is one double-page spread that pictures the little owl in distinctly human situations, experimenting with careers such as DJ and florist. This page, composed of many small, humorous vignettes very different from the bold, large images in most of the intensely colored illustrations, is the most fun for a caregiver and child to examine together. The baby owl can be seen presiding over a “World Leaders’ Summit,” becoming a rocket scientist and an archaeologist, climbing Mount Everest, and working as a professional dog walker. The parent owl wisely says: “You see... // whoever you are going to be... / whatever you may do... // wherever you may choose to fly... // ...I’ll ALWAYS love you - hooooooo!”

The loving parental sentiments ring true, and young listeners will chime in on the “hoo” sounds throughout the story.