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A delightful board book! Story Summary and Visual PeekElizabeth

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Name: Owl Babies: Waddell, Martin, Benson, Patrick: 9780763617103: Amazon.com: Books
Price: 7.19 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.9 (5008 reviews)

Martin Waddell

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Owl Babies Paperback – Picture Book, April 1, 2002

by Martin Waddell (Author), Patrick Benson (Illustrator)

5,008 ratings

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A tender tale to remind the youngest of children that Mommy always comes back.

"I want my mommy!" Three baby owls awake one night to find their mother gone, and they can’t help but wonder where she is. What is she doing? When will she be back? What scary things move all around them? Stunning illustrations from striking perspectives capture the anxious little owls as they worry. Not surprisingly, joyous flapping and dancing and bouncing greet the mother’s return, lending a celebratory tone to the ending of this comforting tale. Never has the plight of young ones who miss their mother been so simply told or so beautifully rendered.

From the Publisher

'A wonderful 'read to me' book for nap time, story time, or bedtime.'

—Booklist.

Other editions also available

The classic picture book

Perfect for storytime.

The board book and cuddly toy owl

Makes a great gift.

The board book

The sturdy pages are perfect for toddlers.

WARNING: California’s Proposition 65

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Three worried owlets wait for their mother to return from her night flight. PW said, Benson's disarming cross-hatched pictures of fluffy, wide-eyed owl babies, and the use of light-colored text against a black background, turn this sweet story into a hauntingly lovely book. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

This story will strike a familiar chord in every small child who has been afraid when left by [a] parent, and parents will perhaps gain a new understanding of how a small child might feel . . . A wonderful 'read to me' book for nap time, story time, or bedtime.
—Booklist

Benson's soft, wide-eyed birds—rendered in delicate pen strokes touched with gentle color that makes the dramatic, dark night seem appropriately awesome—are perfect stand-ins for wise little toddlers who also know Mom will turn up—but still can't help wondering.
—Kirkus Reviews

Enchanting…illustrations of the softly colored baby owls set against a black night will captivate preschool listeners.
—Modesto Bee

Featured in “50 of the Best Kids’ Books Published in the Last 25 Years”
—The Huffington Post

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick; Reprint edition (April 1, 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0763617105
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0763617103
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 1 - 4 years, from customers
Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 2
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.31 x 0.16 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #25,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #118 in Children's Bird Books (Books)
- #220 in Children’s Books on Sleep
- #453 in Children's Books on Emotions & Feelings (Books)

Customer Reviews:
5,008 ratings

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Martin Waddell

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Martin Waddell is the Hans Christian Andersen Medal winner 2004 and two-time Smarties Prize winner. Among his many books for children are the Little Bear and Farmer Duck series. Martin lives in Newcastle in County Down.

Customer reviews

5,008 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers love this book, finding it more fun to read than most board books, with beautiful illustrations and a story that warms the heart of all ages. The book is particularly well-suited for preschoolers, with nicely written words and a message about mothers always coming back, making it effective for dealing with separation anxiety. Customers appreciate its value as a baby shower gift.

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Book love Illustrations Story quality Book for children Gift value Language Motherhood Separation anxiety

145 customers mention "Book love"145 positive0 negative

Customers love this book, finding it charming and more fun to read than most board books, with students particularly enjoying it.

"...Wonderful book!..." Read more

"...my share of children's books and it is a real treat to find such a lovely book that I didn't know of. The story is universal ("where's my mommy?")..." Read more

"Love this book and arrived quickly and in great shape!" Read more

"Live this book and so does my granddaughter" Read more

142 customers mention "Illustrations"139 positive3 negative

Customers love the illustrations in this book, describing them as beautiful and cute, with one customer noting the contrast between the black night sky.

"...I'm so glad we stuck with this book; it's a sweet story, beautifully illustrated, and helps my son with separations...." Read more

"...It’s sweet and relaxing and reassuring for a bedtime story." Read more

"...and it is presented and illustrated just beautifully...." Read more

"...It’s always a favorite! The pictures are beautiful and the storyline is one the kids love and can recite with me." Read more

140 customers mention "Story quality"137 positive3 negative

Customers love the story of this book, describing it as sweet and comforting, with children frequently requesting it as a bedtime read.

"...he exclaims each time. I'm so glad we stuck with this book; it's a sweet story, beautifully illustrated, and helps my son with separations...." Read more

"My kids loved this sweet tale about a momma owl and her babies so much that they wanted to give it to the new baby in the neighborhood as a baby gift..." Read more

"It's a cute story about a mother owl who is hunting for food but her 3 baby owlets miss her and want her home...." Read more

"...The story is universal ("where's my mommy?") and it is presented and illustrated just beautifully...." Read more

118 customers mention "Book for children"118 positive0 negative

Customers find this book wonderful for young children, particularly as a favorite to read aloud to preschoolers, and appreciate its great message.

"...It engages the emotions of the little ones with just the right amount of tension and then offers the massive relief of mommy's return...." Read more

"...are beautiful and the storyline is one the kids love and can recite with me." Read more

"This is absolutely my favorite children’s book. I buy the board book for all of my friend’s babies...." Read more

"...This book touched a chord in me, it brought back a memory of childhood, of waiting with siblings for mommy's return...." Read more

15 customers mention "Gift value"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book makes a great gift, particularly for baby showers and newborns.

"Great gift for a newborn’s parents so they can start reading to the baby." Read more

"...This was a favorite with our boys, and it is gifted to all new babies in the family." Read more

"Lovely Gift! I bought 2, one for my now adult daughter (it was her favourite when she was little) and another as a gift for a little boy...." Read more

"My seven year old son LOVES owls. This was the perfect gift for him." Read more

10 customers mention "Language"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the language of the book, with several noting the nicely written words, and one mentioning that the meter is beautiful to read, while another points out that it's not heavy on text.

"...with a common fear of young children, it has wonderful repetition, rich language and yet is not heavy on text...." Read more

"...The text also paints a picture of the three baby owl’s characters especially young scared Bill and a plot all children can relate to, concern about..." Read more

"...It has simple writing and beautiful artwork. Lots of repetitive lines in the story make it an easy read. Also helps start conversations about emotions" Read more

"...beautiful, the illustrations are gorgeous and the words are very nicely written, there's enough to read, but not too much that a toddler would lose..." Read more

9 customers mention "Motherhood"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the motherhood theme in the book, with several noting that mommies always come back, and one customer mentioning how it helps children get used to being away from their mothers.

"...with just the right amount of tension and then offers the massive relief of mommy's return...." Read more

"...in me, it brought back a memory of childhood, of waiting with siblings for mommy's return. Reassuring them she would come back...." Read more

"...It's good on many levels - mommy comes back, there was no reason for all the fuss, no need to be afraid of the dark, etc...." Read more

"My daughter is almost 2 and LOVES this book. It has helped her get used to being away from mommy and knowing she'll be back." Read more

9 customers mention "Separation anxiety"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful for addressing separation anxiety in children.

"...book; it's a sweet story, beautifully illustrated, and helps my son with separations. When I need to leave him he now says "owl mommy came back!"..." Read more

"Perfect book for separation anxiety. My son loves it." Read more

"This book is so sweet! It helped my son overcome his separation anxiety!" Read more

"This is a great book for kids have separation anxiety." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

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Sunnyswimmer
Good lesson for toddlers - mommy goes but comes back!
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2009
Verified Purchase

I bought this beautifully illustrated board book for my owl-loving son when he was 22-months old. I expected him to love it and was surprised and saddened when it terrified him: "No, no!" was his reaction to the 3 little owls waking in their tree home to find their mommy gone. He could not last three more pages until the mommy returned and all was well. After trying to read it to him 3-4 times and getting the same reeaction each time, I put the book on a shelf and left it.

6 weeks later my (then nearly 24-month old son) pulled the book off the shelf and asked me to read it to him. I read the first page, and then he immediately flipped to the end when the mommy comes home, still unable to wait wade through the pages in between. This went on for 4-5 more readings until one day he let me read the whole book to him. My son just turned two and now he LOVES it and had us read to him repeatedly every day. "Mommy came back!" he exclaims each time. I'm so glad we stuck with this book; it's a sweet story, beautifully illustrated, and helps my son with separations. When I need to leave him he now says "owl mommy came back!" Yes, I tell him, Mommys always come back. He has applied this book to his own life and it gives him comfort.

Wonderful book! If your child is initially scared by it don't be disheartened, stick with it and keep it in a place where your child can bring it to you when they are ready to absorb it.

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24 people found this helpful

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Review from the couch
Sweetest book!!!
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2024
Verified Purchase
My kids loved this sweet tale about a momma owl and her babies so much that they wanted to give it to the new baby in the neighborhood as a baby gift. It’s sweet and relaxing and reassuring for a bedtime story.

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Patricia A. Kempton
This book has a message for young children
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
It's a cute story about a mother owl who is hunting for food but her 3 baby owlets miss her and want her home. The meaning of book is that even if mommy goes away she always comes back. My young granddaughters 2/1/2 & 4 1/2 love this book. Would recommend

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Jean Wolitzer
What a wonderful book!
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2020
Verified Purchase
I have read more than my share of children's books and it is a real treat to find such a lovely book that I didn't know of. The story is universal ("where's my mommy?") and it is presented and illustrated just beautifully. It engages the emotions of the little ones with just the right amount of tension and then offers the massive relief of mommy's return. But don't go by my opinion - my 2 and 3 year old grandchildren were captivated from the first reading and when we get to the end they often want to start it again.

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Amazon Customer
Sweet book and in great shape!
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2024
Verified Purchase
Love this book and arrived quickly and in great shape!

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One person found this helpful

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denise j
One of our favorites
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2024
Verified Purchase
I’ve read this book for yours to kiddos from birth to 5. It’s always a favorite! The pictures are beautiful and the storyline is one the kids love and can recite with me.

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hanishoney
Paperback has illustrated pages not in the boardbook version
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2013
Verified Purchase
I encountered the paperback version in my local bookstore during my lunch hour. My son was not even 1 years old yet, but he cried terribly every morning when I left for work and waited desperately for me when the sun sets and I'm not home yet. It was a time when I was working until 10p.m. to get a project done by a specific due date and he'd refuse to go to bed until Mommy got home. When I read the book, it appealed so much considering what was going on at the time, that even though I thought my baby was a little too young, I bought it anyway.

The paperback is beautiful and large, each individual page truly like artwork that you could frame on the wall! It was a hit with my son from the first day. However, my husband only read it to him when Mommy is not around once. He started crying at "And she came!" because HIS Mommy hadn't come. Before this happened, we weren't sure whether he understood the story!

My son loved the book so much, he often took it and insisted on turning the pages himself. By the time my baby boy turned one, the paperback was looking quite worn. He'd torn the pages a bit, here and there, and we were sad to see the beautiful artwork marred by tape, but that's what books are for, right? To be loved and used.

When he finally pulled the cover off the book, we decided it was time to buy a new copy. When I saw that amazon.com had a boardbook version, I immediately ordered that one, as that would last longer than the paperback with my physically over-affectionate 1.5 year old. The boardbook serves its purpose for my toddler to flip through, but I think I will be buying another paperback version when he gets a little older, because the boardbook is short by 10 pages, dropping many pieces of beautiful illustrations, although the words and the story is fully intact. It is also smaller in size, so some of the detail is lost to the eye.

Now that my son is 2 years old, he has taken to flapping his arms and bouncing up and down with the baby owls when Owl Mother has arrived. I have no doubts that this book will engage my baby boy for a few years more.

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67 people found this helpful

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PousTriam
Terrific size
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
The lap-size board books are a terrific innovation. Waddell's "Owl Babies" is a sweet, joyous tale -- just the right length. It's filled with a reassuring message and delightful illustrations. Your little one will love it.

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Mauricio Ferreira Eiras
Excelente
Reviewed in Brazil on June 17, 2019
Verified Purchase

Rápido e exatamente o que selecionei

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nikkisunbiasedreviews
Cute storyline
Reviewed in Canada on October 14, 2023
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Such a great story to remind the babes that Mama will always come back / home ! Absolutely adore this book.

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Michelle D
The sweetest story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2025
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My toddler loves this book and completing the words and it’s a joy to read it to her. Such a sweet story!

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Natalya
Storia bella, carta lacata, facile
Reviewed in Italy on September 17, 2019
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I miei bambini la adorano! La storia molto dolce che prende bambini, con un insegnamento perfetto. Ci sono frasi ripetute che alla fine ripetono i bimbi. Il libro è morbido ma lavato perciò va benissimo. Piaciuto tantissimo. Consiglio

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Hemant R. More
My babies favorite
Reviewed in India on January 17, 2025
Verified Purchase
Story and illustraion is nice (5/5)
For book and paper quality (4.5/5)

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Owl Babies Paperback – Picture Book, April 1, 2002

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From the Publisher

'A wonderful 'read to me' book for nap time, story time, or bedtime.'

Other editions also available

The classic picture book

The board book and cuddly toy owl

The board book

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Review

Product details

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About the author

Martin Waddell

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Top reviews from the United States

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5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute storyline

5.0 out of 5 stars The sweetest story

5.0 out of 5 stars Storia bella, carta lacata, facile

5.0 out of 5 stars My babies favorite

Excelente

Cute storyline

The sweetest story

Storia bella, carta lacata, facile

My babies favorite