The fourth graphic novel in the award-winning, all-ages series tells the story of new visitor to the forest. He may be misunderstood because of how...
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reviews
Sep 25, 2011
Halley
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Owly: A Time to be Brave, is a visually simplistic, yet whimsical, graphic novel about a cute owl and his friends overcoming their visceral reaction to a new creature living in their forest. The author's approach to conveying heavy themes, such as acceptance, through only visual media is a nice change from heavily text-based didactic tales. Young readers will delight in the expressive drawings that convey the thoughts of the characters so effectively. This novel is a great way of starting conver
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Dec 18, 2011
Zack
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Andy Runton's Owly Volume 4: A Time to Be Brave by Andy Runton is a popular book for ALL AGES. This book talks about the kindness of this kind owl named Owly and his pal Wormy who had just finished reading a fairy tale book about a knight defeating a dragon. Wormy is scared of the dragon but Owly reminds him that there's no such thing as a dragon. But the problem is, when they see a possum, Wormy thinks he's a dragona and the possum is scared of Owly. Will Owly be friends with the possum and wil
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Feb 25, 2010
Chris
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My first thought was to say the Owly tales illustrate the power of optimism, but that’s true only so much as Owly’s attitude motivates his actions. Really, this is a series of stories about unrelenting giving, compassion, and friendship. Very simple, wordless stories with adorable art (I say adorable as someone who doesn’t do saccharine or cloying). Following the sequence and understanding all the messages implied by the symbols that stand in for words when dialogue occurs can still be a soph
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Apr 24, 2009
Christopher
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More Owly! I grabbed this for my daughter's Easter basket and was not dissappointed. Having not yet read Volumes 1 & 2, I found that this volume gave us some more backstory and insight into Owly and Wormy's relationship.
This time the new comer to Owly's neck of the woods is a little less timid and mistaken as a dragon by over-imaginative Wormy.
I'm beginning to wonder if Wormy getting bonked on the head is a running theme however.
This time the new comer to Owly's neck of the woods is a little less timid and mistaken as a dragon by over-imaginative Wormy.
I'm beginning to wonder if Wormy getting bonked on the head is a running theme however.
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Jun 27, 2010
Jess
rated it:
Didn't really dig this one as much as the others. The plot felt recycled from earlier books
1) Animal A is scared of animal B
2) Animal B is a natural predator of Animal A
3) Animal B gets sad
4) Animal A gets hurt.
5) Animal B swoops in to help
6) Raccoon is visited.
7) Aniamls figure out what's going on with each other.
8) Happy
Not bad, just not new.
1) Animal A is scared of animal B
2) Animal B is a natural predator of Animal A
3) Animal B gets sad
4) Animal A gets hurt.
5) Animal B swoops in to help
6) Raccoon is visited.
7) Aniamls figure out what's going on with each other.
8) Happy
Not bad, just not new.
Nov 30, 2009
Raina
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This is the first full gn I've read of the Owly series. I appreciate the lack of textual dialogue in the series - it makes it more accessible to a younger audience. In fact, the lack of text makes me concentrate harder on interpreting the pictures illustrating the dialogue. In some ways, though this element is unique and very cool, it took me out of the story.
May 04, 2011
Ben
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Some wordless comics I love (see The Arrival), but Owly just doesn't translate well for me as an adult. I'm sure that I'd love it if reading side-by-side with a 3 year-old, but it just didn't hold my interest on my own. I did like the cute possum-looking character, but didn't stick around long enough to learn its name.
Aug 14, 2011
Lisa
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This was the first Owly book I've read. I love the fact that it uses very few words and allows for your imagination to fill in the rest. The message of acceptance is amazing and I wish everyone could be as giving and accepting as Owly. Definitely a new favourite series and one that I will be passing on!
Jun 19, 2009
Sandra
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This was the first graphic novel I had ever read. I was able to follow the plot and understand why students of all grades like them. I feel that this and other graphic novels will be an asset to my bookshelves. I believe it will be especially beneficial to my new ESOL students. The message of not fearing what we don't understand is something my students will be able to understand by reading the pictures. I gave this book a 5
Dec 28, 2010
dara
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I needed something to clear my mind. Cute, although man, these animals are crybabies. (Yes, the plot seems very similar to the first volume, but who cares? It's not like I invested much time or energy into "reading" this picture book.)
May 19, 2011
This is a sweet Owly book. Owly makes a new friend of course, but in a different way each time. It connects a fear of Wormy with learning about new animals to see who can be a friend when you think they might be an enemy.
Feb 20, 2011
Beth
rated it: 
Fairy tales get the best of the imagination of both Owly and Wormy. It turns out that the creature they believe is to be a dragon is just a harmless opossum. Luckily the raccoon shares an encyclopedia so the animals learn this.
Mar 17, 2009
Emily
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Great story for kids to learn to be brave and not afraid of things. Wonderful drawings like all the other books. I would highly recommend any of the Owly books especially for children who are just learning to read.
Mar 20, 2008
Brandy
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Owly's back, as adorable as ever. This volume is a little harder to follow than previous stories, if only because Runton is presenting more complicated ideas in his pictorial speech. It's hard to get across "You put up this cage and now I'm stuck and can't get what I want and I'm hurt so I'm mad at you" when you don't have any text to work with.
Even more than the friend-positive, help-others-even-if-they're-mean-to-you message, this book is about cute. Really, really cute More...
Even more than the friend-positive, help-others-even-if-they're-mean-to-you message, this book is about cute. Really, really cute More...
Mar 06, 2010
Kaethe
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I've been meaning to read Owly forever. I suppose it was only appropriate to wait until one of the Offspring picked them up for herself. So cute, so cleverly executed. And of course I loved the Possum.
Sep 27, 2009
Christine
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I found this book while I happened to be looking for a different one. Owly is wordless except for a few brief frames. It used questions marks to the characters' confusion and worry, and it used an exclamation mark for surprise and excitement. The stor focused on friendship and helping those in need. It showed how animals can be misunderstood like the oppossum who I wasn't even sure what it was until the story clarified it for me. As I read, I found myself becoming more aware of the strategies I
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Dec 02, 2011
Lisa
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Another great Owly book by Andy Runton. These books have the power to touch your heart without being overly sappy.
Apr 13, 2011
Shannon
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I wept. In the car. Outside the library. Charming and sweet and fun (BUT SAD) with perfectly expressive characters.
Oct 21, 2008
Susie
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I've enjoyed all the Owly graphic novels, which are about a loveable owl who does good deeds and makes friends with worms, hummingbirds, and possums. The artwork is charming and the lesson of each story always rings true. I didn't like this latest installment as well, I think because I found it harder to follow. The Owly books contain almost no text (the characters communicate with symbols and pictures), and for some reason, it took me a long time to decipher the dialogue, which made the stor
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Oct 06, 2008
Tawnie
rated it:
Grades: 2 to 5 Genre: Graphic Novel, Animal
Owly and his friend Wormy are reading a fairy tale and get scared by the dragon in it. To cheer themselves up they decide to go out side. While there, Wormy sees a shadow lurking and is afraid that it is the dragon from the book. Instead it is the shy Possy, just wanting to join the fun. While at first this graphic novel seems quite simple as it relies mostly on the images alone, the story told is one of friendship and understanding. Even the More...
Owly and his friend Wormy are reading a fairy tale and get scared by the dragon in it. To cheer themselves up they decide to go out side. While there, Wormy sees a shadow lurking and is afraid that it is the dragon from the book. Instead it is the shy Possy, just wanting to join the fun. While at first this graphic novel seems quite simple as it relies mostly on the images alone, the story told is one of friendship and understanding. Even the More...
May 13, 2008
Kate Hastings
rated it:
Wordless graphic novel-- and FUN. Owly and his worm friend read a book about dragons-- which makes them start to fear their own shadows! They play ball outside and end up hurting a tree, which they have to fix and put a fence around. When they go to bed, the hear the ball bouncing... but nobody is outside that they know of. Could it be a dragon?
I'm starting to get the hang of how to read these. It actually takes a lot of concentration to figure out what's going on.
I'm starting to get the hang of how to read these. It actually takes a lot of concentration to figure out what's going on.
May 28, 2008
Emily
rated it:
Summary: Owly and his friends learn about an Opossum, and that he's just as scared of them as they are of him.
Review: A sweet story about understanding and of course bravery. Though there are no words, it takes familiarity with story structure and at least punctuation to grasp the story line.
Postive review from Book Links, with reccomendations for being used by a teaching tool. Teacher Librarian calls this episode of Owly,"touching and sincere as always.
Review: A sweet story about understanding and of course bravery. Though there are no words, it takes familiarity with story structure and at least punctuation to grasp the story line.
Postive review from Book Links, with reccomendations for being used by a teaching tool. Teacher Librarian calls this episode of Owly,"touching and sincere as always.
Mar 24, 2008
Jessica
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Okay, I realize every Owly book is pretty much the exact same story with different animal friends, but that's what makes them so endearing. This time, it's a possum's turn to be scared of Owly. As usual, everything turns out lovely in the end. The sheer cuteness of this series makes me want to squeal, but the sad moments (mostly of Owly being misunderstood as a predator) make this more than a cutesy, mindless romp.
Jul 14, 2008
morgan
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i just love a good owly bedtime story! this is a really adorable one! owly and wormy both overcome their fear and become heroes by helping a very special, but unfamiliar, someone out of a tough spot! so cute!
Aug 25, 2008
Emilia
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Just a little too sad. Everybody needs to stop being so scared of each other, for reals. Although I liked that Owly and Wormy weren't the clear good guys here.
Jan 14, 2012
Jess
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Runton is one talented graphic artist! this wordless, black and white graphic novel conveyed the further adventures of Owly.
Jan 06, 2008
Jenn
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Owly and Wormy make a new friend: Possey. I hope Andy Runton keeps making more Owly books because I love them!!!
