‘Knight Owl’ by Christopher Denise
Knight Owl, a Caldecott Honor Book, is an empowering tale of a very small owl who dreamed of being a knight. His brave, deftly told story, peppered with warm humour, is one of perseverance, self-belief, and friendship. Owl honours his dream, facing every challenge along the way from the weight of his sword to his daytime snoozes. Christopher Denise’s expressive illustrations are exceptional and young readers will spend many a reading browsing the intricate detail. The striking double page spreads signify not only the enormity of Owl’s dream but, more telling, that of its realization – as well as the size of the creature that sees Owl as a tasty bite. This is a tender story of a little owl with the presence of a dragon. Don’t miss the second wondrous quest of Knight Owl ‘Knight Owl and the Early Bird’.
These Are Animals by Daniel Egnéus
This highly entertaining romp through diverse animal habitats introduces young children to a range of creatures, big and small, on land or sea, climbers, chompers, growlers and roarers. An exuberant array of creatures adorn the pages and children will love echoing the cacophony of sounds, and imitating the animals’ actions. Rhyme, alliteration, typography play and other literary devices not only shape the rhythm and pace of the story but also create the sensation of words almost lifting off the page and this animation is further enhanced by the delightful riotous illustrations. Double page spreads give the impression of space, hinting at the real-life size of the environment depicted and enabling the sense of movement as animals swing, fly or swim across the page. Some images even give a nod to the different seasons. Bold colours and high contrasts are integral to the book’s rumbustious nature and together, the written and visual narratives imbue humour, curiosity and wildness into the reading experience. Sheer joy!
Reviews by The City Library's Children and Young Adult Collection Development Librarian.
