Owls Wol and Weeps turn a household upside down, outwit a dog with the dignity of Mutt and shake up a neighborhood.
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Sep 22, 2011
Katie
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I remembered loving this book from when I was a kid! My sister's favorite animals were owls, so we were in awe of Farley's family who had two pet owls. After looking around for this book in the library, I finally ordered it off Amazon. It was so worth it! It was a quick read of 3 sittings and all three of my kids loved it and we all laughed and laughed. I've liked most of Farley Mowatt's books, but I've never read his most famous book: Never Cry Wolf. Someday I'll get to that.
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Oct 13, 2011
Tori
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So, this book is cute and easy to read. The problem I had with it was it's supposed to be humorous, but I found it a little bit sad. I don't know if I'm just weird that way or what, but other people would probaby enjoy it!
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Dec 19, 2011
Brad
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I don't know how true these memories are, but they are my memories, so they are true enough for this. Around 34 or 35 years ago, I went into my elementary school library and talked to Mrs. Dogleash (surely Mrs. Dalgliesh, like the famous Liverpool footballer and manager, but we always thought of her as Dogleash). I needed a book. She gave me Owls in the Family.
I remember the orange-gold shag carpet of my bedroom where I sat and read in the evening. I remember a flashlight and my cro More...
I remember the orange-gold shag carpet of my bedroom where I sat and read in the evening. I remember a flashlight and my cro More...
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Jun 30, 2011
Phoebe
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This humorous and interesting account of young Farley Mowat's adventures on the Saskatchewan prairie will hold the 4th-6th grade attention. Imagine, in a simpler era, being able to go out into the woods and find baby owls--and raise them. The narrator had many pets as a child so adding two more wasn't that difficult, and his descriptions of their antics and personalities are delightful and funny. Recommended for kids who like animals and an outstanding read-aloud. Only 90 pages long.
Oct 07, 2009
Steph
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My thirteen year old self gives this book 5 stars. It's a fantastic adventure/nature/comedic story, and a quick read. The book is based on Mowat's experiences as a kid growing up in Saskatchewan in the 1940's with a pet great horned owl. Not the sort of thing that would be remotely acceptable today, but the book gave me a better understanding of owls--their intelligence and their quirky personalities. Recommended to anyone who likes odd pet stories!
Jan 15, 2012
Meghan
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This was one of my favorite books as a kid, I remember reading it and re-reading it. My mum had bought it for my from a scholastic book order just before my Papa died, my papa had known the author and I always thought of him when I read it. I'll have to dig it out of storage and re-read it again, it's been a while.
Jan 22, 2012
Lucinda
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This month as part of our owl studies we have dissected owl pellets, watched Molly the owl in her box on youtube, we're doing drawings of owls and visiting the Audubon Society, it was only appropriate to read this book to get the boys excited about a real-life adventure with some pet owls!
Jul 21, 2009
Karen
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This was the first "chapter" book we read with our daughter and the whole family had fun with it -- especially since we have a white owl who likes to come perch on the fence and hoot at night outside our windows.
Oct 13, 2011
Heather
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One of my all time favorite books. I read this book the first time when I was 9 years old. I re-read it as an adult and loved it. I then read it again out loud to my kids. It is now one of my son's favorite books.
Jan 10, 2009
Raelene
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Loved this book in elementary school. The adventure was gripping and the antics always thrilling to a little girl with a big imagination.
Sep 02, 2009
Karen
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I had almost forgotten about this book but in the bookstore tonight I saw another book that made me remember this one. Very good book.
Oct 04, 2010
Patrick
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Another great read with my son. He is deeply jealous of Mowat, having learned that it is illegal (here and now) to own an owl.
Oct 13, 2011
Molly
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My mother read this to me when I was in elementary school, and I remember laughing so hard my belly hurt. It is the true story of a boy growing up in Saskatchewan, who numbers among his many pets, two great horned owls, which he rescued as chicks. Mowat tells the story of his boyhood with nostalgic fondness, and anyone who has ever had a beloved pet will enjoy the all-too-human personalities of Wol and Weeps, as well as the the adventures and trouble they get into with their friends of many spec
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Oct 13, 2011
Susanne
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My mom read this to me as a kid and I just remember laughing and laughing... I'll need to check it out at the library to share with my own kids!
Mar 11, 2010
Carrie
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This was one of my favorite books as a child. I loved reading about Wol, Weeps, and Billy's adventures.
Dec 30, 2010
Kristy
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This was one of Stephen's favorite books when he was a child. It is a lovely story.
Oct 02, 2011
JoDean
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Read again this time with a group of 30 8-14 year olds. I believe it was a hit with all of them! We laughed and laughed at the antics of the boys and owls. This book is a great read aloud.
Boy and I shared this together today though he often ran off with it to read ahead. Super fun story about boys and crazy pets. Who wouldn't want a pet owl who thought he was people? Super great writing too which was especially appreciated as our last book together was vastly inferior. ;) More...
Boy and I shared this together today though he often ran off with it to read ahead. Super fun story about boys and crazy pets. Who wouldn't want a pet owl who thought he was people? Super great writing too which was especially appreciated as our last book together was vastly inferior. ;) More...
Jan 11, 2008
Tara
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Such a sweet book. A boy saves a young Great Horned Owl after a storm kills the owl's family and destroys their nest. He adopts the owl and names him Wol (Inspired by how Owl from Winnie-the-pooh mistakenly spells owl). They have adventures and save another owl from mean boys throwing rocks. The new owl (newly named Weeps) joins the family and the adventures. It is such a cute book, but I found the ending nearly unbearably sad.
Oct 13, 2011
Caren
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I just love this author. He is able to transport the reader to another time and place: his childhood on the Canadian prairies, where a boy could raom freely and explore the natural world. This book, about how he raised and lived with two orphaned owls, is better suited to children, in my opinion, than his (equally good) "The Dog Who Wouldn't Be". I listened to a very well executed audio edition read by James Armstrong.
Oct 13, 2011
Cheryl
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I might be in the minority, but I thought this book was simply - OK. It is clean cut, which is refreshing in juvenile literature. Unfortunately, I found it almost boring. Worse, as a novel writing teacher, I found the writing technique tended to "tell" rather than to "show." It is a quick-to-read book and lends itself to a great unit study of owls, so go ahead and get it, but don't hope for the best novel you've ever read.
Oct 13, 2011
Carol
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This was my third reading of this book and each time I remember all over again how much I love it. It is so funny! Farley Mowat is a "hoot and a half". First published in 1961 (my library has the '61 copy so it won't be around much longer)it was released in paperback in 1996. Quick, read it before it disappears!
BTW I do not reread books as a rule just because "there are so many books and so little time".
BTW I do not reread books as a rule just because "there are so many books and so little time".
Oct 13, 2011
Jadwega
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This was one of my favorite books growing up. For any one, child or adult, who loves animals, this is a warm-hearted tale about a boy who rescues two baby owls and raises them as part of his family. It's also a story about growing up and sometimes having to make difficult decisions. Humorous, fun, and full of adventure, I think anyone who reads this book will enjoy it.
Oct 13, 2011
Leah
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The funniest laugh-out-loud book I've read in a long time. I read this to my son over the course of three days. We couldn't wait to find time for the next chapter. Warning: this was written in 1961, so the use of firearms and cruelty to animals is mentioned in several places.
Oct 13, 2011
Trish
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just a good old-fashioned book, based on the author's childhood, growing up in Saskathewan. The author actually grew up to be a naturalist, and wrote many books about nature and such.... quick, fun read. would be a good read-aloud book.
May 08, 2008
Aubrielle
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I loved this book. It is such a cute story about the innocence of children, unexpected friends, and finding a place to belong. I recommend it to anyone who loves the hilarious antics of kids and animals.
Oct 13, 2011
Levi
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One of the things I find funny about his diff. books is the way you find out that he's edited certain things from the stories. The end in real life was rather sadder than in the children's version.
