We've recently unveiled Wordplay, a new look for our pre-school activities and resources featuring a host of adorable woodland animals, headed by Oona the owl. Stock librarian Sophie has helped Oona pick out our top titles about owls to mark the occasion.
Are You There Little Owl?, by Sam Taplin & Essi Kimpamäki
“Little owl is hiding! Children will love peeping through the holes in this charming book to try and find the elusive owl. As they make their way through the forest they keep thinking they have found the owl, only for it to turn out to be something else when they turn the page.”
Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell & Patrick Benson
“A beautiful board book edition of a bestselling modern classic, this is the story of three baby owls, Sarah, Percy and Bill, who wake one night to find their mother gone. And as the darkness gathers and they perch patiently on their branch waiting for her return, oh how they worry! What are those scary noises all around them? What is mum doing? When will she be back?”
I’m Not Cute!, by Jonathan Allen
“Baby Owl doesn’t think that he is cute, or that small! Jonathan Allen’s story makes for a perfect bedtime read.”
Wow! Said the Owl, by Tim Hopgood
“At night, when we are feeling tired and ready for bed, owls are just waking up. But this curious little owl decides to stay awake all day, instead of all night, and discovers a world bursting with colour! But when the night-time comes around again, the stars above her head are still the most beautiful of all.”
Owl Bat Bat Owl, by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
“Mummy Owl and her three little owls live happily on their spacious branch. That is, until the bat family move in. And the new neighbours (the owls up-top, the bats hanging below) can’t help but feel a little wary of one another. Owls just don’t mix with bats and bats don’t mix with owls. But babies are curious little creatures and this curiosity, and a wild, stormy night, might just bring these two families together.”
Owl, by Magali Attiogbé
“Join owl in the wild to find out what he does at night.
“Introducing nature to little ones, this book provides a simple, entertaining storyline with an owl character as the focus. Each page includes a window or a flap to encourage children to read on and discover more. Bright and colourful illustrations are sure to engage young children as they learn about the owl, from a cute description, to what he eats and where he lives.”
Where’s Mr Owl?, by Ingela P. Arrhenius
“Five illustrated spreads show a series of friendly woodland animals hiding behind bright felt flaps. And there’s a mirror on the final page! A perfect book to share with very little ones.”
10, 9, 8…Owls Up Late!: a countdown to bedtime, by Georgiana Deutsch & Ekaterina Trukhan
“Ten cheeky, bouncy, noisy owls are playing in a tree. It’s bedtime, but they’re having far too much fun to go to sleep! Uh-oh. Will Mummy Owl ever convince all her little owlets to fly down to the nest?”
Little Owl, Little Owl, Can’t You Sleep?, by Jo Lodge
“Wiggle the sliding tabs and giggle as the noisy animals come to life! With brilliantly bold, bright pictures by the wonderful Jo Lodge, plus a funny rhyming story, Little Owl, Little Owl, Can’t You Sleep? is sure to put a big smile on your toddler’s face and with any luck, a big yawn too!”
This is Owl, by Libby Walden & Jacqui Lee
“This is Owl. Have you met? No? Well let me introduce you. With flaps and interactive play, this humorous title will have you clapping and flapping along!”
A Bit Lost, by Chris Haughton
“Little Owl must be more careful when he is sleeping - uh-oh! He has fallen from his nest, & with a bump he lands on the ground. Where is his mummy? With the earnest assistance of his new friend Squirrel, Little Owl sets off in search of her, & meets a sequence of other animals.”
Love You Hoo, by Rachel Bright
“Cuddle up now, little one, let’s snuggle wing-to-wing. Are you feeling safe and warm? OK then, let’s begin.
“Join Little Owl and Big Owl as they cuddle up at bedtime, thinking of the special times they’ve had together and all the exciting adventures the future holds.”
My Favourite Owl, by Daniel Roode
“Babies can have lots of fun opening the peekaboo flaps to discover what each animal is doing. There is a rhyme to share, recap questions and a wheel to turn at the end to choose your favourite character from inside the book. From the barn owl who goes for a starry night ride to the snowy owl who loves chilly weather, which owl will your little one pick?”
A T-wit for a T-woo, by Charlie Farley & Layn Marlow
“Little owl Twoo feels like something is missing. While all the other owls in the wood have a beautiful t-wit-t-woo call, Twoo only has half of his song. So the brave little owl sets off on a quest to find his true owl song - and a true friend to sing with him. On his journey, he discovers that when you believe in yourself, anything is possible.”
Little Owl’s Egg, by Debi Gliori & Alison Brown
”‘I’m your baby owl. You don’t need a new one.’
“Little Owl isn’t pleased to hear that there’s a baby owl in the egg Mummy has laid. So Mummy pretends it might be a baby penguin, or crocodile, or elephant! In the fun of imagining different kinds of siblings, Little Owl realises that a baby owl might just be the best thing of all. This is a gentle, lovely story about the arrival of a new sibling, addressing fears that Mummy’s love will stop.”
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, by Jill Tomlinson & Paul Howard
“Plop the baby barn owl is like every other barn owl, except he is afraid of the dark. His mother sends him out to ask about the dark and he meets many different people, each with their own reason for enjoying the dark.”
Baz & Benz, by Heidi McKinnon
“Benz, are we friends?
‘Yes, Baz, we are best friends’
‘For how long?’
‘For ever and ever.’
But what do you do when your best friend is - kind of annoying?
“A delightfully funny and warm-hearted story about a little owl exploring the boundaries of love and friendship.”
Goodnight Hoot, by Rowena Blyth
“This tactile, die-cut board book features Hoot the owl and his woodland friends in a series of charming, stylised illustrations as they say goodnight and bed down in their natural landscape.”
Happy…, by Emma Dodd
“Little owl loves playing games, trying new things and singing, but what makes little owl happiest of all? Why, when he cuddles close with his mummy and whispers, ‘I love you’.”