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I'm Not...
"I'm Not Cute!"
Baby Owl meets Rabbit, Squirrel, and Fox in the woods and is upset when they tell him how cute he is but when Mama tells him that he is not cute, surprisingly his attitude changes.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2005
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661 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
July 18, 2018
Jonathan Allen has a wonderful knack of hitting the emotional nail on the head with this piece, geared for young readers or those who like to listen attentively. While out for a walk, Baby Owl comes across a few friends who cannot help but tell him how cute he seems to be. Not wanting the 'baby' attention, Baby Owl retorts that he is NOT cute, but a ferocious beast. His anger mounts until Mama Owl agrees with his description as a mean owl, only to have Baby change his tune. Much like other little ones, emotions switch at the drop of a hat. Neo liked this piece as he readied himself for a day of camp. He disagreed that he would ever say one thing and then completely change his mind in a minute. And that, my friends, is proof that I have a lawyer on my hands!
May 14, 2017
This is an adorable and funny story about a fiercely independent, stubborn, and somewhat indecisive little baby owl who doesn't want everyone to tell him he's cute, but still wants to be cute after all.
It reminds me of my three year old! Our girls enjoyed this one immensely and my three year old 'read' it to herself again after we finished.
It reminds me of my three year old! Our girls enjoyed this one immensely and my three year old 'read' it to herself again after we finished.
July 18, 2012
This is a story about a baby owl who goes for a walk before bed time and is unhappy that everyone he meets thinks that he is cute, rather than the fierce and deadly hunter that he would like to think of himself as. It's an entertaining story which works both for children and adults, and the illustrations are perfectly adequate. I like the fact that it speaks to what I believe is a universal experience; the difference between the way we are seen and the way that we see ourselves (something that could be explored further in a class activity). It also packs a lot of adjectives many of which are repeated, and could be used in class to introduce descriptive vocabulary, which students could then use in their own creative writing.
August 27, 2018
A baby owl who wants to be seen as a grown up. That's why he doesn't want to be called cute.
September 7, 2018
Made me laugh out loud. Cute book. I'm curious to see other books by this author.
July 31, 2019
Owls are fierce and deadly. Owls are NOT cute, no matter how cute they are.
September 29, 2022
عنوان ترجمهٔ فارسی: من بامزه نیستم!
January 29, 2022
As a happily child-free single person this may not be my lane to criticize, but it sure seemed like there was an awful lot of unwanted hugging in this book. YMMV.
June 25, 2017
Now I know I am not cute but the baby owl in Jonathan Allen's splendid and nicely illustrated book is obviously cute. The difference is that while I would not mind someone telling me that I was cute, this baby owl hates people telling him that fact. Misguided or what? I'd take it any day of the week!
However, when the baby owl went exploring in the woods he thought nobody would bother him. How wrong he was, first Rabbit came along and told him he was cute and small to which Owl told him, 'I am a huge and scary hunting machine with great big soft and silent wings'. Then came Fox and he also told owl that he was cute and that he was so fluffy before giving him a big hug. Once again Owl denied being cute and fluffy, this time telling Fox, 'I am a huge sleek hunting machine with great big see-in-the-dark eyes.'
Squirrel was next with the praise and he told Owl that he was cute and had big baby eyes. This time Owl was most upset and stamped his feet as he denied the praise. Then along came Owl's Mum and after being asked how he was, Owl replied, 'It's not fair! Rabbit, Fox and Squirrel all say I'm cute. But I'm not!' To pacify Baby Owl, Mum tells him that he is not cute and repeats what Owl told Rabbit before giving him a big hug ... aah!
Owl pondered for a moment and then thought, 'But I am cute! I am! I AM!' Mum decided that Owl was tired and put him to bed and read him a story as he drifted off to sleep. Just as he was dozing Mum then told him again that he was cute, adding so as not to upset him, 'for a huge, scary, sleek, sharp-eyed hunting machine, that is.' And ... Owl went to sleep happy.
A lovely little story that can be told and told over and over ... now about that cuteness ...
However, when the baby owl went exploring in the woods he thought nobody would bother him. How wrong he was, first Rabbit came along and told him he was cute and small to which Owl told him, 'I am a huge and scary hunting machine with great big soft and silent wings'. Then came Fox and he also told owl that he was cute and that he was so fluffy before giving him a big hug. Once again Owl denied being cute and fluffy, this time telling Fox, 'I am a huge sleek hunting machine with great big see-in-the-dark eyes.'
Squirrel was next with the praise and he told Owl that he was cute and had big baby eyes. This time Owl was most upset and stamped his feet as he denied the praise. Then along came Owl's Mum and after being asked how he was, Owl replied, 'It's not fair! Rabbit, Fox and Squirrel all say I'm cute. But I'm not!' To pacify Baby Owl, Mum tells him that he is not cute and repeats what Owl told Rabbit before giving him a big hug ... aah!
Owl pondered for a moment and then thought, 'But I am cute! I am! I AM!' Mum decided that Owl was tired and put him to bed and read him a story as he drifted off to sleep. Just as he was dozing Mum then told him again that he was cute, adding so as not to upset him, 'for a huge, scary, sleek, sharp-eyed hunting machine, that is.' And ... Owl went to sleep happy.
A lovely little story that can be told and told over and over ... now about that cuteness ...
October 5, 2011
It’s about a little owl that wants to explore the woods but is repeatedly disturbed by inhabitants of the forest.
The owl is perceived by rabbit, fox and squirrel as a cute, fluffy and adorable owl. However, the owl doesn’t want to be perceived this way. He wants to be seen as a much stronger and a "sleek hunting machine". He becomes quite frustrated, about how the animals see him and confides in his mother. She agrees with him and just then after a thought baby owl switches his mind and instead does want to be a cute and cuddly owl and falls asleep.
Although this was a fun, simple read and enjoyable to be read to, I couldn’t see a particularly exciting storyline, or a particular message conveyed. The ending for me was quite quick and somewhat, abrupt. In essence, the owl wanting to be something that he wasn’t, then suddenly after thinking about it, deciding that he did want to be who he was, and THAT was pretty much it !
Having said this, it will always be memorable to me and my son enjoyed reading it many many times!
The owl is perceived by rabbit, fox and squirrel as a cute, fluffy and adorable owl. However, the owl doesn’t want to be perceived this way. He wants to be seen as a much stronger and a "sleek hunting machine". He becomes quite frustrated, about how the animals see him and confides in his mother. She agrees with him and just then after a thought baby owl switches his mind and instead does want to be a cute and cuddly owl and falls asleep.
Although this was a fun, simple read and enjoyable to be read to, I couldn’t see a particularly exciting storyline, or a particular message conveyed. The ending for me was quite quick and somewhat, abrupt. In essence, the owl wanting to be something that he wasn’t, then suddenly after thinking about it, deciding that he did want to be who he was, and THAT was pretty much it !
Having said this, it will always be memorable to me and my son enjoyed reading it many many times!
October 14, 2013
Excellent story for my little brother. We first got it from the library and now it is a firm favourite at bedtime. It is short enough to be read several times in succession. Chunky pages make it ideal for small children as paper often gets ripped or crumpled. It is a very calm and sweet story which is ideal for girls and boys alike. It has simple illustrations, only a few characters (so it's easy to invent enough character voices), it is easy to add actions, and it bears repeating without being tiresome for me. It is a really simple story but well written. It would be suitable for reception classes.
January 25, 2014
Excellent story for my little brother. We first got it from the library and now it is a firm favourite at bedtime. It is short enough to be read several times in succession. Chunky pages make it ideal for small children as paper often gets ripped or crumpled. It is a very calm and sweet story which is ideal for girls and boys alike. It has simple illustrations, only a few characters (so it's easy to invent enough character voices), it is easy to add actions, and it bears repeating without being tiresome for me. It is a really simple story but well written. It would be suitable for reception classes.
October 21, 2014
I use this for my owl program every year. 10/11
I use this with the toddler group and try to get the parents and everyone hugging. It worked well at my previous branch, not so well this year. 10/24/12
It worked better this year. Maybe my caregivers and parents are getting used to me or the ones that are, are encouraging the new ones. 10/13
New group this year, I guess I have to try and read it with my puppet.
I use this with the toddler group and try to get the parents and everyone hugging. It worked well at my previous branch, not so well this year. 10/24/12
It worked better this year. Maybe my caregivers and parents are getting used to me or the ones that are, are encouraging the new ones. 10/13
New group this year, I guess I have to try and read it with my puppet.
April 13, 2011
A laugh out loud cute picture book about a baby owl who hates that everyone treats him as a cute, cuddly bird instead of a predator. That is, until he is being tucked into bed by his mommy. Wonderful for preschool, kindergarten and first grade read alouds. Like Mo Willems' tales, this one has an epic tantrum that will be fun to act out during story time.
October 2, 2014
I'm not a big fan of books where the main character has a big tantrum. I get that this is often the case in toddlerhood, but still not a big fan of reading about it. ;-) Kids will probably love it.
April 29, 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZic3...
" لماذا يموت الطيبون صغاراً جداً، في حين يتدبّر الأوغاد أمرهم للعيش طويلاً ؟ "
-لا قديسون ولا ملائكة , إيفان كليما
" لماذا يموت الطيبون صغاراً جداً، في حين يتدبّر الأوغاد أمرهم للعيش طويلاً ؟ "
-لا قديسون ولا ملائكة , إيفان كليما
May 18, 2024
Aww. So cute.
January 4, 2015
Well, I get exactly how this owl feels. Sometimes you just don't WANNA be cute, even if you are.
picture-books
February 13, 2024Date: 02.05.24
Attendees 40
Theme: Owls
Introduction and announcements: Clap Slow Clap Fast by Tom Burnett
Book one: Owl Boy by Brian Schatell
Song/rhyme/game one: Wide-eyed Owl action rhyme
Book two: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
Song/rhyme/game two: Walk and You Walk and You Walk and You Stop! By Rainbow Songs
Book three: I’m Not Cute by Jonathan Allen
Song/ rhyme/ game three: Egg Shaker Song by Mister Q
Activity: Owl coloring pages
Attendees 40
Theme: Owls
Introduction and announcements: Clap Slow Clap Fast by Tom Burnett
Book one: Owl Boy by Brian Schatell
Song/rhyme/game one: Wide-eyed Owl action rhyme
Book two: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
Song/rhyme/game two: Walk and You Walk and You Walk and You Stop! By Rainbow Songs
Book three: I’m Not Cute by Jonathan Allen
Song/ rhyme/ game three: Egg Shaker Song by Mister Q
Activity: Owl coloring pages
March 7, 2019
Little Owl doesn't want to be thought of as cute which is how other animals describe him. However his mother finds a way to get around his dislike of that moniker. This story is, indeed, cute and will delight your listeners and readers with its beautiful illustrations and the wry twist in the story.
October 17, 2023
Whenever I see this book cover I always think it's a baby chick until I read the story and it's a baby owl, not a baby chick, but it's an alright book. It's about a baby owl getting annoyed that everyone is saying how cute they are because he's a "huge and scary hunting machine...". Illustrations are simple and go well with the story.
June 30, 2017
A little owl wants so much to be a sleek, sharp eyed hunting machine, but all the animals he meets think he is so cute and small. His mama knows what he is and this is a soothing story of being who you want to be.
April 12, 2019
Preslatka pricica o maloj sovi. Uz malo piskavog oponasanja male sove i grljenja kad god neko nju grli, Nikola je toliko uzivao u ovoj prici da smo morali da kupimo knjizicu pre nego sto vratimo knjigu u biblioteku. Jer se mala sova jedno vreme citala svako vece pre spavanja...
February 3, 2018
Baby Owl tries to convince all the woodland creatures he's not cute, but that he's a huge, scary, sleek, sharp-eyed hunting machine. His mom knows that he's cute - for a "huge, scary, sleek, sharp-eyed hunting machine" who is grumpy and tired, and needs a nap.
June 22, 2018
This was super cute. It's about a baby owl who wants to be a fierce hunter, not cute. But... maybe Momma should think Baby Owl is cute. Baby Owl realizes you can be more than one thing at a time... even if those things seem very different.
March 4, 2021
Baby Owl is tired of being cute when everyone knows he's a big ferocious predator. But, well sometimes baby Owl does want to be cute in Mamma's eyes. Toddlers who are turning into big boys and girls will definitely relate.
November 17, 2021
This is a fun book. Little owl really IS rather cute. The switch from "I'm not cute! to "I am cute!" is a little confusing for kids, though - and the squirrel is a bit strange looking. This book is a good one for opening a discussion about not hugging people unless they want to be hugged.
May 8, 2023
Great opportunity to address body safety missed. The owl gets hugged and touched by various animals who call him "cute." He objects to this word, but never to the touches. I find this odd and disappointing.
March 17, 2025
I love this because this is my daughter. Baby Owl keeps telling the other animals of the forest that he is not cute when they tell him he is cute and fluffy, but Mama Owl knows how to handle the situation. 😊
Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews