In this picture book in the Nature Storybooks series, a child and her grandfather watch a family of barn owls nesting in a box that they have placed in a tree to help protect them from predators, as the trees and barns where they usually make their homes have been destroyed.
Their close relationship is evident in the way the grandfather gives explanations at the same time as encouraging the child to make her own observations. The central narrative is from the child’s viewpoint. Additional facts about barn owls appear on each spread in a different font. The main text and some vignettes appear on a sepia background, while Michael Foreman’s signature palette of shades of blue is perfect for the night time scenes portrayed in the larger illustrations.
"Few children now have access to the open woodlands and grasslands frequented by barn owls, but they can all enjoy the magic of the bird thanks to this lovely introduction." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
A young girl and her grandfather look for a barn owl night after night. Will a distinctive heart-shaped face appear at the window? Michael Foreman's lush, intimate paintings are a perfect companion to Nicola Davies's lyrical text featuring intriguing facts about a rare bird indeed. Back matter includes further information about nest boxes and an index.
Foreman's watercolour illustrations are luminous. - The Bookseller
Author
About Nicola Davies
Nicola Davies is an award-winning author whose many books for children include Ice Bear, Big Blue Whale and King of the Sky. She is a Zoology graduate, an expert in whales and bats, and has worked for the BBC Natural History Unit. She lives in Powys
