What do you think?
Rate this book
Good Night Owl
Owl is ready for bed. But as soon as he settles in, he hears a strange noise. He'll never get to sleep unless he can figure out what's going on! He looks everywhere-in his cupboard, underneath the floorboards-even in his walls. But while he's busy tearing his house apart, he doesn't notice one tiny, squeaky, mouse-shaped detail. . . . Will Owl ever get a good night's sleep?
48 pages, Hardcover
First published April 19, 2016
11 people are currently reading
853 people want to read
About the author
Greg Pizzoli
77 books173 followersGreg Pizzoli is the author and illustrator of The Watermelon Seed, winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, Number One Sam, Templeton Gets His Wish, Tricky Vic: The Impossibly True Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower, and coming in April 2016, Good Night Owl. He lives in Philadelphia.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
March 28, 2020
Well first and foremost, I guess I have to admit that I do find it rather disconcerting and definitely a trifle problematic that author/illustrator Greg Pizzoli has his owl going to sleep at night instead of being up and about (since owls of course are nocturnal and therefore tend to sleep during the day). However, I was still willing to swallow and subdue my sense of disbelief, as indeed, Good Night Owl does start out engagingly and humorously enough, with Owl continuously getting out of bed to look for the source of the squeak that is preventing him from settling down (and which readers right from the onset know is a mouse) definitely making me smile, that is UNTIL Owl ends up in a fit of supreme and raw temper basically demolishing his entire house to try to get rid of his noise issue. For sorry, but I honestly do not really consider Owl's destructiveness with regard to his roof and walls as presenting a good and positive attitude (and also giving a rather problematic potential message), since in my opinion, Good Night Owl could in a worst case scenario make young children believe that one could and perhaps even should deal with encountered problems (such as Owl's squeaky noise scenario) with anger and by being willfully and openly hostile (and yes, as other reviewers have pointed out, owls generally eat mice, so it is also more than a bit strange that Owl has no issues totally tearing down his house but then seemingly makes friends with the mouse that is the cause of all of this mayhem).
Combined with the fact that I have also not found the accompanying illustrations all that aesthetically pleasant, as I do seem to find Greg Pizzoli's pink and pastelly colour scheme not at all to my visual tastes, while I have in no way actively despised Good Night Owl, I also have not found either Pizzoli's text or his artwork personally appealing enough for more than a two star rating.
Combined with the fact that I have also not found the accompanying illustrations all that aesthetically pleasant, as I do seem to find Greg Pizzoli's pink and pastelly colour scheme not at all to my visual tastes, while I have in no way actively despised Good Night Owl, I also have not found either Pizzoli's text or his artwork personally appealing enough for more than a two star rating.
November 25, 2017
The images didn't load, so I only read the dialogue and it was honestly one of the scariest things I've ever read in my life: this presence haunting the owl... the ending so abrupt and nightmarish... I was spooked!
Me:
But when I re-read it with the images it was a pretty cute story.
April 26, 2017
My son is 5 and not reading independently yet, which means he is still solidly into picture books, but some of them are becoming a little "babyish" for him. When he picked this one out at the library I worried, based on the cover and simple title, that it would fall into the "babyish and not very exciting" category. Boy, was I ever wrong!
This book is hysterical. My husband and I trade off reading bedtime stories with my son, and one night when the boys were reading together I heard my son laughing hysterically about this book. Tonight I got the chance to read it with him, and he was laughing his head off all over again. I don't even know how to describe what's funny about it. There's just something so amusing about Owl's increasing rage at not being able to find the "squeek", and how completely irrational he gets as the night goes on. My son also got a big kick of knowing the source of the squeek from the start, and understanding something that Owl didn't. The illustrations are pretty great, too.
There were pictures of Pizzoli's other books on the book jacket, and now my son wants to check them all out at the library.
This book is hysterical. My husband and I trade off reading bedtime stories with my son, and one night when the boys were reading together I heard my son laughing hysterically about this book. Tonight I got the chance to read it with him, and he was laughing his head off all over again. I don't even know how to describe what's funny about it. There's just something so amusing about Owl's increasing rage at not being able to find the "squeek", and how completely irrational he gets as the night goes on. My son also got a big kick of knowing the source of the squeek from the start, and understanding something that Owl didn't. The illustrations are pretty great, too.
There were pictures of Pizzoli's other books on the book jacket, and now my son wants to check them all out at the library.
August 14, 2016
Genius! Elements I love about this one:
Owl's robe/pajamas.
The way the story ramps up, and how far it ramps up.
That Owl says goodnight to himself.
That readers see and know something the main character does not in a delightful way.
The ending and how Owl addresses the noisemaker.
Owl's robe/pajamas.
The way the story ramps up, and how far it ramps up.
That Owl says goodnight to himself.
That readers see and know something the main character does not in a delightful way.
The ending and how Owl addresses the noisemaker.
February 5, 2020
Owl hears a squeaky noise as he is going to bed and, thinking it must be somebody at the door, he goes to investigate. When he discovers that nobody is there, he returns to bed, only to hear the noise again. Thinking it must be coming from the cupboard, he pulls everything off the shelves, but cannot find the source. Each time he returns to bed, only to hear the noise again, Owl becomes progressively more bothered, pulling up his floorboards, taking off the roof of his house, even pulling down the walls. Eventually he discovers that it is a little mouse making the noise, and bidding the murine interloper goodnight, he falls asleep underneath the stars.
An amusing tale, one which relies on the illustrations to keep the reader/listener informed - although Owl doesn't know what is causing the squeak, the artwork shows the mouse on each page, letting the child in on the joke - Good Night Owl has the same colorful cartoon-like illustrations that were so appealing in previous Greg Pizzoli titles, from The Watermelon Seed to Templeton Gets His Wish . The story itself struck me as being a little... odd at times. Owl tearing apart his entire house felt a little over the top, although I did appreciate the scene in which he tensely waits for the noise to recur, as I too have had that experience at night, unable to fall asleep because I am paying too much attention to some repetitive sound. I imagine that this would make an excellent story-time selection, especially for younger children who enjoy the experience of knowing more than the characters in the story.
An amusing tale, one which relies on the illustrations to keep the reader/listener informed - although Owl doesn't know what is causing the squeak, the artwork shows the mouse on each page, letting the child in on the joke - Good Night Owl has the same colorful cartoon-like illustrations that were so appealing in previous Greg Pizzoli titles, from The Watermelon Seed to Templeton Gets His Wish . The story itself struck me as being a little... odd at times. Owl tearing apart his entire house felt a little over the top, although I did appreciate the scene in which he tensely waits for the noise to recur, as I too have had that experience at night, unable to fall asleep because I am paying too much attention to some repetitive sound. I imagine that this would make an excellent story-time selection, especially for younger children who enjoy the experience of knowing more than the characters in the story.
October 15, 2020
Wow, this really hit home in a slightly uncomfortable way.
Owl spends the whole night trying to go to bed, but he just can’t until he can find the source of the mysterious noise: “squeek!” Every time he hears it, Owl’s attempt to find it becomes more drastic and more ridiculous. He is convinced it’s the door; he goes to check. He is convinced it is under the floor; he tears up the floorboards. He is convinced it is in the walls; he tears his house down. Finally, in a pile of his completely destroyed house, Owl sees the noise. He says goodnight to the noise and is able to go to sleep in peace.
It reminded me what lengths I have gone to feverishly discover the source of something that’s spiking my anxiety. How often have I lain in bed, convinced I won’t be able to fall asleep because the heater is just a little too loud? It reminded me too well of those young days when my anxiety went unchecked and caused me to do some very counterintuitive things almost as drastic as Owl tearing his house down while trying to find the source of a noise. I really connected with Owl because, whether intentionally or by complete accident, this felt like it was representation on what it feels like to have mild-to-moderate OCD.
Owl spends the whole night trying to go to bed, but he just can’t until he can find the source of the mysterious noise: “squeek!” Every time he hears it, Owl’s attempt to find it becomes more drastic and more ridiculous. He is convinced it’s the door; he goes to check. He is convinced it is under the floor; he tears up the floorboards. He is convinced it is in the walls; he tears his house down. Finally, in a pile of his completely destroyed house, Owl sees the noise. He says goodnight to the noise and is able to go to sleep in peace.
It reminded me what lengths I have gone to feverishly discover the source of something that’s spiking my anxiety. How often have I lain in bed, convinced I won’t be able to fall asleep because the heater is just a little too loud? It reminded me too well of those young days when my anxiety went unchecked and caused me to do some very counterintuitive things almost as drastic as Owl tearing his house down while trying to find the source of a noise. I really connected with Owl because, whether intentionally or by complete accident, this felt like it was representation on what it feels like to have mild-to-moderate OCD.
September 4, 2025
Not bad, but not noteworthy.
Ages: 3 - 5
Here’s a few of our bedtime favs: watch my reel!
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
Ages: 3 - 5
Here’s a few of our bedtime favs: watch my reel!
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
February 14, 2016
Have you ever read Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel? Pizzoli’s wonderful new picture book recalls the story “Strange Bumps” in the best way possible. In Lobel’s book, Owl is settling into bed when he is alarmed by the two “strange bumps” (his feet) under the covers of his bed. Chuckle-inducing antics ensue as Owl fearfully tries to escape the bumps and get some rest. In Pizzoli’s book, Owl is settling into bed when he hears a, “SQUEEK!” Like Lobel’s story, readers are almost immediately privy to the source (a wee mouse, in this case), and the clever dramatic irony as Owl tears his house apart trying to find the tiny noisemaker makes this book a winner, especially for reading aloud to younger audiences. Beautifully paced and boldly illustrated in Pizzoli’s signature screen print style (and pay attention to all the little objects in Owl’s house, referencing Pizzoli’s other books!), this book is a definite must for bedtime laughs.
January 30, 2017
Owl can't sleep because a noise keeps him awake. He must pull his house a part in order to locate the disturbing sound.
May 19, 2017
Mouse keeps squeaking and keeping Owl from sleeping. Not knowing where the sound is coming from, Owl tears his house to pieces trying to get rid of it. Shouldn't he eat the mouse when he finds him? Not only did the mouse cause all the trouble, but he's a mouse! By rights he should be dinner and not sleeping at the foot of the bed!
Sigh, I'm too literal, aren't I?
Sigh, I'm too literal, aren't I?
May 16, 2017
This funny book will keep children laughing at the clueless owl and diligently searching each page for the elusive mouse. The fun and appealing cartoon illustrations are in bright pastels.
January 30, 2017
I love the illustrations.
2017 Geisel Honor
2017 Geisel Honor
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2017
This looks like a pretty ordinary children's book, but about halfway through things take a turn and get weird. It still cracks me up even though my daughter's made me read it over and over.
June 27, 2017
Owl is having anything BUT a good night when a squeaking sound keeps him from sleeping.
I liked the illustrations and the layout more than the story.
I liked the illustrations and the layout more than the story.
March 3, 2020
Not my cup of tea. Weirdly destructive and anxiety inducing. The ending is also a head-scratcher considering owls eat mice. Of course the bebe loves it and asks for it by name.
Read
May 19, 2016When your house is surrounded by woods in a neighborhood surrounded by woods, as the nights start to get cooler with the approach of winter, you can usually expect uninvited guests. Regardless of applying foaming filler in every nook and cranny, they find a way into your humble abode. As they make their presence known and your canine companion chooses to ignore them, you do too. It's a sort of a live and let live philosophy.
There are times though when lying in bed reading, their skittering and scampering in the walls is downright distracting. The new release, Good Night Owl (Disney Hyperion, April 19, 2016) by Geisel Award-winning author/illustrator Greg Pizzoli (The Watermelon Seed) has one of our nocturnal, feathered friends struggling to enjoy total peace and quiet. His night is anything but good.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
There are times though when lying in bed reading, their skittering and scampering in the walls is downright distracting. The new release, Good Night Owl (Disney Hyperion, April 19, 2016) by Geisel Award-winning author/illustrator Greg Pizzoli (The Watermelon Seed) has one of our nocturnal, feathered friends struggling to enjoy total peace and quiet. His night is anything but good.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
June 24, 2017
I love owls (and currently have my classroom decorated with an owl theme) so this book scores extra points for being about a darling owl.
Owl is ready for bed...but just as he is about to go to sleep, he hears a small, unrecognizable noise. He must figure out what it is. He takes action to try to determine what is creating the noise. As the noise continues, the actions he takes become drastically bigger (and sillier). Love the illustrations, enjoyed the humor and LOVE the cute owl, including his facial expressions.
Owl is ready for bed...but just as he is about to go to sleep, he hears a small, unrecognizable noise. He must figure out what it is. He takes action to try to determine what is creating the noise. As the noise continues, the actions he takes become drastically bigger (and sillier). Love the illustrations, enjoyed the humor and LOVE the cute owl, including his facial expressions.
March 5, 2024
Unfortunately, this book was all about the destruction of a house due to a noise that was heard. I did not appreciate how this book is essentially showing children that it is okay to destroy things, such as your room or house, if you hear a noise that is unknown. I would not recommend this book to families.
December 19, 2016
I knew this book was supposed to be funny, but never felt the urge to laugh. I was more distracted by the fact that the owl is going to sleep at night. The author could have chosen any animal as his main character - why not choose a woodland creature that isn't nocturnal? It would be fun to read aloud to a group, but I'm not sure the ending would strike the right note with most audiences.
June 23, 2016
Why must we have another stupid book about an uninvited mouse coming to visit? With a bear it's kind of Mutt and Jeff, but here the owl (who is somehow not out hunting at night) would snatch that mouse in a second for a meal. But really, they're going to be great friends. Right. Read some Aesop instead.
February 13, 2016
I love the many ways this can be read -- bedtime story, spot-the-mouse story, silly story. Perhaps my favorite is with a beginning reader who can see the hilarious way Owl keeps getting more and more upset, laughing at owl and seeing in themselves how they get upset too. Great payoff at the end.
July 28, 2016
Owl literally tears his house apart looking for the source of a mysterious noise one night. This character is exactly like me! Poor Owl. At least he got a new friend out of it!
June 30, 2017
A very cute story. Too bad all the kids who showed up for Preschool Storytime were mostly babies. But they liked squeaking along.
September 5, 2017
cute :)
July 14, 2021
It was okay. This one surprised me a bit, because I usually like Pizzoli's books, but an owl getting so frustrated trying to find a sound that he tears up his whole house and doesn't calm down until he sees the mouse? I mean, it just wasn't a very enjoyable story.
August 5, 2019
Owl is going to bed, but he hears a "squeak!"
A funny story about finding the noise.
2019 storytime theme: A Universe of Stories / Nighttime
Reviewed from a library copy.
A funny story about finding the noise.
2019 storytime theme: A Universe of Stories / Nighttime
Reviewed from a library copy.
December 7, 2021
Well, that was a tad disturbing.
February 6, 2026
This is my life story
April 20, 2016
A fun bedtime story!
What's an owl to do, when every time he says good night to himself, and nestles down in bed, he hears a squeak? Searching high and low, and all through out his house, Owl can not figure out where that sound is coming from. If Owl wants a good night sleep, he has to find that noise. GOOD NIGHT OWL is a fun read that is sure to bring on a fit giggles, as readers watch Owl search tirelessly for the source of the squeak that's keeping him up. Hidden on each page is the mouse, who's squeak is keeping Owl up. Simple, warm colored illustrations set the perfect mood for this bedtime story.
REVIEW SHARED HERE http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2016/0...
What's an owl to do, when every time he says good night to himself, and nestles down in bed, he hears a squeak? Searching high and low, and all through out his house, Owl can not figure out where that sound is coming from. If Owl wants a good night sleep, he has to find that noise. GOOD NIGHT OWL is a fun read that is sure to bring on a fit giggles, as readers watch Owl search tirelessly for the source of the squeak that's keeping him up. Hidden on each page is the mouse, who's squeak is keeping Owl up. Simple, warm colored illustrations set the perfect mood for this bedtime story.
REVIEW SHARED HERE http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2016/0...
April 28, 2016
Squeek!
Before Owl can fall to sleep, he needs to find out where that sound is coming from...no matter what!
Squeek!
Yikes!!! I think the noise might be coming from inside your computer! Do you mind if Owl and I take a look?!
In all seriousness, kids will get a kick out of this beautifully illustrated, "bring the house down" story.
Before Owl can fall to sleep, he needs to find out where that sound is coming from...no matter what!
Squeek!
Yikes!!! I think the noise might be coming from inside your computer! Do you mind if Owl and I take a look?!
In all seriousness, kids will get a kick out of this beautifully illustrated, "bring the house down" story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews