HEY OWL, WHAT'S IN THE BOX?
From the Owl and Bird series
by Rebecca Purcell ; illustrated by Rebecca Purcell
A cheery guessing game for toddlers ready for a sweet, predictable mystery.
A perky gray owl is on its way to a party. The yellow plane flying a “PARTY TONIGHT” banner is the first clue. Owl’s pink roller skates hint at the fun to come. And of course, Owl’s leaving a bakery carrying a box clearly marked “DONUTS.” Apparently, the animals Owl meets can’t read yet, just like the toddlers or preschoolers playing along with the guessing game. The animals asking the title question wear clues to what their guess may be: A bird with a pirate’s eye patch asks, “Is it treasure?” A swan with a crown and star-tipped wand asks, “Is it fairy dust?” To each ever more fanciful guess, Owl replies, “Nope.” Lest this formula grow dull, the questions begin to vary a tiny bit, until a baby owl says, “I know what’s in the box! Is it a surprise?” and Owl replies, “Yes!” Predictable text, expressive characters, and added details in the uncluttered pictures against a cheerful teal background make this simple story surprisingly satisfying for young readers just beginning to understand story structure. The real surprise is what happens when Owl trips on a rock and drops the box.
Expect demand for repeated readings (and maybe donuts too).
(Board book. 2-5)