Review by Booklist Review
Award-winning author-illustrator Horáček returns with a new animal adventure. Curious about the daytime, Tiny Owl wants to stay awake instead of going to sleep. Mother Owl warns, "Days can be scary for a small owl," but the prospect of experiencing the day proves too tempting. Tiny Owl stays awake to explore the daytime, finding the sunshine, other birds, and flowers beautiful. The illustrations' bright, bold, splashy colors mix with lines to add depth and texture, and they're sure to captivate young readers. Whenever Tiny Owl lands somewhere to rest, unsettling noises from predatory animals scare the young bird. However, observant readers will note that Mother Owl always chases the dangers away with Tiny Owl none the wiser. Realizing that "the day is certainly full of scary sounds," Tiny Owl heads back to the safety of home. The narrative provides the sweet reassurance that parents protect their little ones, even when children can't see them. Horáček's engaging mixed-media art coupled with the story's comforting message will resonate with parents and curious youngsters.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Horácek (A Best Friend for Bear) conveys a secure feeling of home and family with this onomatopoeia-filled adventure about a nocturnal youth's day out. As morning dawns, Tiny Owl declares, "I'm not sleepy.... Please can I stay awake all day?" Mama Owl yawningly warns, "Days can be scary for a small owl," but the downy gray protagonist ventures out anyhow ("Tiptoe/ Tiptoe/ Tiptoe/ Tiptoe"). Sunlit sights delight the curious bird, but several noisy encounters ("Creep/ Crack/ Click/ Crack") spook her. Spying a river on one spread, the green-eyed avian character appreciates its "bright fish," while a fiery red fox's tail waves among the reeds, moving closer until Tiny Owl obliviously flies off... and a larger owl chases away the stalker. And when the young owl eventually heads home, she remains blissfully unaware of the near misses she actually encountered, and Mama's full role as protector, the whole day through. Dramatically visualized via color-saturated mixed-media artwork, close calls with predators unfold over several pages, generating riveting beats of suspense and relief that draw to a peaceful end. Ages 3--7. (July)
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Review by Horn Book Review
As dawn breaks, sleepy Mama Owl urges her not-tired, curious Tiny Owl to rest, warning, "Days can be scary for a small owl." Unfazed, Tiny Owl tiptoes out to explore a sunlit morning. The owlet, who is still covered in fluffy white down and has yet to develop predator skills, meets other birds, explores meadows and riverbeds, and soaks up the beauty of daytime. Dangers, too, emerge: a cat and a fox lurk and creep nearby. She escapes them just in time, but readers will note Mama pursuing each threat to her oblivious offspring's safety. Finally, Tiny Owl, weary of all the scary daytime sounds, returns home -- where she hears one more: "WHOOSH!" But it's just her equally tuckered-out mama. "Being out during the day is scary for owls...I'm glad to be home," Tiny Owl admits. "Nighttime is owl time," Mama replies as they snuggle together for their day's rest. Then, as the moon rises, they fly through the quiet, star-filled night, just as owls are meant to do. Lush, textured mixed-media illustrations contain details to be discovered on subsequent reads, such as the reactions of the birds Tiny Owl attempts to befriend. This lovely, quietly humorous picture book is likely to be equally successful at bedtime and storytime. Pam YoscaSeptember/October 2025 p.44 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
For a nocturnal creature, the daytime can be exciting--and even a little dangerous. As dawn approaches, grayish-white Tiny Owl declares that she's not a bit tired; she's curious to explore and see what life is like by day! She sneaks out of the tree hollow where she and brown-feathered Mama Owl make their home. Tiny Owl plays chase with some other birds and rests in a field. Upon hearing threatening noises, she flies away, not looking back. Then she stops by a river to admire the bright-colored fish but then hears a different noise and takes off again. She attempts to rest with some other birds, but they scatter, and Tiny Owl races back home, alarmed. But no one is there, until…Mama Owl swoops in, exhausted from following Tiny Owl all day, protecting her. Relying on simple prose and repetition, this quaint story treads familiar ground. While it works as a cautionary tale for youngsters not to wander off, it also reassures them that their caregivers will nevertheless be there no matter what. The illustrations show Mama Owl chasing away the animals that threaten Tiny Owl (a cat and a fox), so they know Tiny Owl is never in too much danger. The mixed-media artwork has a juvenile charm, though it does appear quite rough and inconsistent at times, like the dark lines around Tiny Owl's face that sometimes appear heavier. Warm fare for youngsters eager for adventure--but still in need of some parental reassurance.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
