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The Owl Tree
The owl-tree is not like any tree Joe has ever seen. It's huge and leafy and shivers like a person; it even seems to speak. Granny Diamond once saw an owl perched among its branches and she has loved the tree ever since. It means the world to her. But her neighbour, Mr Rock, wants to cut it down. Why does he dislike the owl-tree so much? Does it have a secret to tell Joe? And how can he, a boy too scared even to climb the tree, be the one to save it?
- GenresChildrens
96 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 1997
16 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Nimmo
136 books963 followersJenny Nimmo was born in Windsor, Berkshire, England and educated at boarding schools in Kent and Surrey from the age of six until the age of sixteen, when she ran away from school to become a drama student/assistant stage manager with Theater South East. She graduated and acted in repertory theater in various towns and cities: Eastbourne, Tunbridge Wells, Brighton, Hastings, and Bexhill.
She left Britain to teach English to three Italian boys in Almafi, Italy. On her return, she joined the BBC, first as a picture researcher, then as an assistant floor manager, studio manager (news) then finally a director/adaptor with Jackanory (a BBC storytelling program for children). She left BBC to marry a Welsh artist David Wynn Millward and went to live in Wales in her husband's family home. They live in a very old converted watermill, and the river is constantly threatening to break in, as it has done several times in the past, most dramatically on her youngest child's first birthday. During the summer they run a residential school of art, and she has to move her office, put down tools (type-writer and pencil, and don an apron and cook! They have three grown-up children, Myfawny, Ianto, and Gwenwyfar.
She left Britain to teach English to three Italian boys in Almafi, Italy. On her return, she joined the BBC, first as a picture researcher, then as an assistant floor manager, studio manager (news) then finally a director/adaptor with Jackanory (a BBC storytelling program for children). She left BBC to marry a Welsh artist David Wynn Millward and went to live in Wales in her husband's family home. They live in a very old converted watermill, and the river is constantly threatening to break in, as it has done several times in the past, most dramatically on her youngest child's first birthday. During the summer they run a residential school of art, and she has to move her office, put down tools (type-writer and pencil, and don an apron and cook! They have three grown-up children, Myfawny, Ianto, and Gwenwyfar.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 10, 2015
Short story from Nimmo, I wanted to see if this was suitable for my nearly-five-year-old, but I think it's a little above his level for now.
While away with his great-grandmother as his mum gives birth, Ben watches as the tree next door shivers in fear as his neighbour and learns that Mr Rock, the 'monster', wants to cut it down. Granny Diamond hates the idea, and Ben vows to do what he can to stop it from happening.
Can he find out why Mr Rock hates the tree? And change his mind? Ben and his sister both have their own issues and secrets, which come out in the short span of the story, and the Owl Tree (named this for the owl his great-grandma saw there when younger) and its plot help each in different ways.
A short story, this covers a few issues and did remind me of the dark feel of The Snow Spider, that I read as a child.
This would be a comfortable read for a primary-aged reader, though the tone and story are out of the ordinary. I was glad the fantastical elements I saw coming didn't materialise, it ended well and storylines were all tied up nicely.
While away with his great-grandmother as his mum gives birth, Ben watches as the tree next door shivers in fear as his neighbour and learns that Mr Rock, the 'monster', wants to cut it down. Granny Diamond hates the idea, and Ben vows to do what he can to stop it from happening.
Can he find out why Mr Rock hates the tree? And change his mind? Ben and his sister both have their own issues and secrets, which come out in the short span of the story, and the Owl Tree (named this for the owl his great-grandma saw there when younger) and its plot help each in different ways.
A short story, this covers a few issues and did remind me of the dark feel of The Snow Spider, that I read as a child.
This would be a comfortable read for a primary-aged reader, though the tone and story are out of the ordinary. I was glad the fantastical elements I saw coming didn't materialise, it ended well and storylines were all tied up nicely.
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March 21, 2020good book for children
June 26, 2020
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May 7, 2023
An easy read that I was able to get into.
May 17, 2014
1. I decided to read this book because of the author. I think Jenny Nimmo is a great author and I have read one of her books which is the Charlie bone book and I found that book to be great so I decided to give one of her other books a go.
2. This book filled in the category of a book that's won a prize. This book has won the smarties book of the year. I think this is a great category as it helps people identify great books that they met not have heard of or read about. This gives us an opportunity read great and powerful and colourful books and this book is a great example of that.
3. I think the most interesting character in this book is Joe and his very determined attitude to force the neighbour not cut down the tree and save his grandmothers spirit as she is becoming very dull and pale as the day gets closer to the chopping of the tree and is very interesting to see his persisting attitude.
4. A quote that I found very interesting was " I don't know what you said to him joe but that made him change his mind and now the tree is are and I feel much better". I found this quote interesting because this showed the persistence of joe and how he saved the owl tree and made his grandma feel better, this shows how much love he had for his grandmother and that he'd do anything to make her feel better and he did by saving the tree.
5. Overall I think this was a great and inspiring book crafted in such a way that clinger me on till the very last word. This book also taught me to never give up and have a persisting attitude just like Joe's.
2. This book filled in the category of a book that's won a prize. This book has won the smarties book of the year. I think this is a great category as it helps people identify great books that they met not have heard of or read about. This gives us an opportunity read great and powerful and colourful books and this book is a great example of that.
3. I think the most interesting character in this book is Joe and his very determined attitude to force the neighbour not cut down the tree and save his grandmothers spirit as she is becoming very dull and pale as the day gets closer to the chopping of the tree and is very interesting to see his persisting attitude.
4. A quote that I found very interesting was " I don't know what you said to him joe but that made him change his mind and now the tree is are and I feel much better". I found this quote interesting because this showed the persistence of joe and how he saved the owl tree and made his grandma feel better, this shows how much love he had for his grandmother and that he'd do anything to make her feel better and he did by saving the tree.
5. Overall I think this was a great and inspiring book crafted in such a way that clinger me on till the very last word. This book also taught me to never give up and have a persisting attitude just like Joe's.
April 22, 2012
The owl tree
By Jenny Nimmo
When Joe and his sister Minna go to stay with granny Diamond, Joe is introduced to the owl tree, treasured by granny. Unfortunately the tree does not belong to her and the neighbour who owns it wants to cut it down. Granny Diamond seems to shrink and wither at the news. Joe decides he must do something to help. He goes to visit the grumpy old war hero who owns the tree but is frightened and runs away because of the tales of his monster face. But still determined to save the tree he bravely climbs up the tree even though he is scared of heights, he falls from the tree but not before he discovers there is more to the tree than he thought. But is this enough to save the tree?
This is a lovely book that children will enjoy reading themselves or having it read to them. I could not stop reading it and had to find out what happened in the end.
By Jenny Nimmo
When Joe and his sister Minna go to stay with granny Diamond, Joe is introduced to the owl tree, treasured by granny. Unfortunately the tree does not belong to her and the neighbour who owns it wants to cut it down. Granny Diamond seems to shrink and wither at the news. Joe decides he must do something to help. He goes to visit the grumpy old war hero who owns the tree but is frightened and runs away because of the tales of his monster face. But still determined to save the tree he bravely climbs up the tree even though he is scared of heights, he falls from the tree but not before he discovers there is more to the tree than he thought. But is this enough to save the tree?
This is a lovely book that children will enjoy reading themselves or having it read to them. I could not stop reading it and had to find out what happened in the end.
July 7, 2013
I read this story to children. It started off a little slow I thought but it meant you got to know the main characters very well. The two main characters, siblings, were living with their granny while their mum had a baby, something most children can relate to. One of the siblings is confident, brave and popular whereas the other seems to be shy, quiet and afraid. This contrast makes the story even more interesting as events unfold.
The main part of the story was about a tree that was going to be chopped down and this was something that was having a negative effect on the granny's health. The younger sibling Joe is determined to do something as he sees the changes in his granny.
I won't spoil the ending! But I would recommend this story to be read by or to a child between the ages of 7 - 11.
The main part of the story was about a tree that was going to be chopped down and this was something that was having a negative effect on the granny's health. The younger sibling Joe is determined to do something as he sees the changes in his granny.
I won't spoil the ending! But I would recommend this story to be read by or to a child between the ages of 7 - 11.
January 30, 2009
i thaught this book was amazing and it was a brilliant story to. The story is about a boy called Joe and he is living with his gran and she has a special tree in her neighbours garden and her neighbour is usually called the monster. I think the best charector is Joe's sister Minna. Overall i thaught this book was amazing!!!
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews