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Owl Babies
A tender tale to remind the youngest of children that Mommy always comes back."I want my mommy!" Three baby owls awake one night to find their mother gone, and they can't help but wonder where she is. What is she doing? When will she be back? What scary things move all around them? Stunning illustrations from striking perspectives capture the anxious little owls as they worry. Not surprisingly, joyous flapping and dancing and bouncing greet the mother's return, lending a celebratory tone to the ending of this comforting tale. Never has the plight of young ones who miss their mother been so simply told or so beautifully rendered.
25 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
93 people are currently reading
5055 people want to read
About the author
Martin Waddell
511 books94 followershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_W...
Also writes under the pen name Catherine Sefton
Martin Waddell is the author of more than one hundred books for young readers.
Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (2004).
Also writes under the pen name Catherine Sefton
Martin Waddell is the author of more than one hundred books for young readers.
Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (2004).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,073 reviews
March 13, 2020
This book is a ball of cuteness. It’s set at night, so the muted colors to create that night time atmosphere is done very well. We see 3 baby owls waking up to find their mother missing. They talk among themselves about what she could be doing and when she’ll be back. They are worried. There isn’t much more plot. It’s solely about the owls missing mom and she does swoop in at the end surprising them.
The artwork is stunning here. This is now almost 30 years old. I think it’s the cute factor that this book has been read over and over.
The nephew didn’t think a whole lot of it. He thought the owls were cute, but nothing happens he says. They go from inside to out on a branch and say the same stuff. He was not impressed. He gave this 2 stars and asked for better next time.
The artwork is stunning here. This is now almost 30 years old. I think it’s the cute factor that this book has been read over and over.
The nephew didn’t think a whole lot of it. He thought the owls were cute, but nothing happens he says. They go from inside to out on a branch and say the same stuff. He was not impressed. He gave this 2 stars and asked for better next time.
November 13, 2018
4 Cuteness ★'s
Awe, I love owls! So when I saw this book at the store I just had to buy it for my little niece just so I could read it to her lol :) This book is pretty simple with some repetition, it uses great rhyming patterns and it's poetic. It is easy to understand and has real-life situations for children. This is a book that shows children that their parent will come back, that it's okay to miss them because everything will work out. It also shows the baby owls staying together. This story is perfect for children of all ages. I really love the big fonts and the illustrations are truly magnificent! The full-page illustrations are big, bold and are very detailed and they go perfectly with the story. It's such a cute book that everyone should get a copy of so you too can read it to someone you love :)
Awe, I love owls! So when I saw this book at the store I just had to buy it for my little niece just so I could read it to her lol :) This book is pretty simple with some repetition, it uses great rhyming patterns and it's poetic. It is easy to understand and has real-life situations for children. This is a book that shows children that their parent will come back, that it's okay to miss them because everything will work out. It also shows the baby owls staying together. This story is perfect for children of all ages. I really love the big fonts and the illustrations are truly magnificent! The full-page illustrations are big, bold and are very detailed and they go perfectly with the story. It's such a cute book that everyone should get a copy of so you too can read it to someone you love :)
March 28, 2021
This was a much read story when mine were small, we bought a second hand board book and it got so much use! The baby owls are very appealing and my children liked working out who was which owl.
A beautifully illustrated story exploring anxiety about mummy being away but realising she would come back.
Read today on open library
A beautifully illustrated story exploring anxiety about mummy being away but realising she would come back.
Read today on open library
June 24, 2023
I love owls, lovely, beautiful, shy featheries!
November 14, 2021
Amazing artwork and a story that's relatable for children, a great conversation starter, as the point of the story might not be as obvious to a child, encouraging them to think and open up.
Definately going on my have-to-buy-for-the-next-addition-to-the-fmily-list. ;)
Definately going on my have-to-buy-for-the-next-addition-to-the-fmily-list. ;)
April 20, 2015
Anyone who knows me knows I adore owls, so I was delighted when this book arrived on my desk.
The three baby owls with their lemon fluffy chick feathers and confused looks are as are cute as they can be. Once there were three baby owls: Sarah and Percy and Bill, the story begins. The three owls live in the hollow of a tree with mother owl. The illustration of mother owl leaning over her chicks is gorgeous.
But then disaster strikes. One night the owl babies wake up and mother owl is gone. The three owls have differing responses to this event.
The expression on the faces of the baby owls conveys so much and fits in exactly with the simple text as the baby owls wait and wait. Though they try to be brave, they get more anxious as the night goes on and with each noise in the dark wood. In time mother owl come back to much rejoicing.
This is a gentle reassuring tale with illustrations that are divine. Surely a book to treasure for 2-6 year olds and one children and adults will enjoy poring over the detailed and exquisite illustrations.
This is my youngest granddaughter's favourite book when she visits. Apparently no-one can do the voices of Sarah, Percy and Bill like Nanna can.
The three baby owls with their lemon fluffy chick feathers and confused looks are as are cute as they can be. Once there were three baby owls: Sarah and Percy and Bill, the story begins. The three owls live in the hollow of a tree with mother owl. The illustration of mother owl leaning over her chicks is gorgeous.
But then disaster strikes. One night the owl babies wake up and mother owl is gone. The three owls have differing responses to this event.
The expression on the faces of the baby owls conveys so much and fits in exactly with the simple text as the baby owls wait and wait. Though they try to be brave, they get more anxious as the night goes on and with each noise in the dark wood. In time mother owl come back to much rejoicing.
This is a gentle reassuring tale with illustrations that are divine. Surely a book to treasure for 2-6 year olds and one children and adults will enjoy poring over the detailed and exquisite illustrations.
This is my youngest granddaughter's favourite book when she visits. Apparently no-one can do the voices of Sarah, Percy and Bill like Nanna can.
May 21, 2015
A wonderful story about three baby owls who wake up to find that their mother is not in the nest. Baby owl Bill keeps say "I want my mummy", but the other two are more philosophical about her absence, saying that she is probably out hunting and will come back. They step out of the nest into the big dark wood to wait for her, and baby owl Sarah suggests they share a branch together, which is more cosy. Quite soon, mama owl flies back - reassuring them that although she goes away, of course she will always come back.
This is a lovely story, illustrated with charming and intricate penwork, contrasting with silhouettes of the night. The little fluffy white owls are absolutely adorable.
I collect children's picture books, and to my frustration they are pretty well all in a jumble. Interestingly, on my travels round the library to find "Owl Babies" I was fascinated to see that they have the same chaos as me! None of the large picture books are in alphabetical or subject order, rather they are just stuffed into boxes in the middle of the floor. It's not easy to find a specific book when you are faced with piles of hundreds of books all squashed together. (I had a secret groan....) I would LOVE it if the publishers could come up with a system of colours on the spines of these books - pertaining to some sort of system of subjects, so they could at least roughly be organised. Okay, so the categorizations would be very random, but at least it would give me and the library a starting point for some sort of organisational sanity.
This is a lovely story, illustrated with charming and intricate penwork, contrasting with silhouettes of the night. The little fluffy white owls are absolutely adorable.
I collect children's picture books, and to my frustration they are pretty well all in a jumble. Interestingly, on my travels round the library to find "Owl Babies" I was fascinated to see that they have the same chaos as me! None of the large picture books are in alphabetical or subject order, rather they are just stuffed into boxes in the middle of the floor. It's not easy to find a specific book when you are faced with piles of hundreds of books all squashed together. (I had a secret groan....) I would LOVE it if the publishers could come up with a system of colours on the spines of these books - pertaining to some sort of system of subjects, so they could at least roughly be organised. Okay, so the categorizations would be very random, but at least it would give me and the library a starting point for some sort of organisational sanity.
June 25, 2009
Sweet little story about baby owls whose mother goes off hunting. At first, two of them are brave but little Bill is always saying, "I want my mommy!" As the night goes on, however, they all become increasingly nervous without the security of Mom nearby. The happy resolution is a good one to reassure kids who don't like to be separated from their own parents.
December 4, 2013
Read Owl babies to the nursery children . All the children started to count the owls and every time baby owl cried "I want mummy"
All of the children joined in. The children were highly engaged and interacted with the text to a high degree. This book was an excellent book to read to the children, they started to use their skills of repetition, they are building their literacy skills and there was an element of mathematics involved as well. Great stuff!!
All of the children joined in. The children were highly engaged and interacted with the text to a high degree. This book was an excellent book to read to the children, they started to use their skills of repetition, they are building their literacy skills and there was an element of mathematics involved as well. Great stuff!!
January 5, 2025
Starting 2025 strong with this one. Only 4 stars because I desperately need to know where the hell the mother was.
January 11, 2019
*apare o carte cu bufnițe*
Eu: TREBUIE să fie a mea!
Eu: TREBUIE să fie a mea!
September 9, 2024
A picture book with owls, only the owls don't look creepy. I almost didn't know what to make of that!
Small children should like it.
Small children should like it.
November 1, 2017
Children could look at the contrasting feelings of each of the owls. It encourages children to open up about how they are feeling and think about possible reasons for situations. It also encourages children to stick together and stay positive in a difficult situation.
October 8, 2018
This is a beautiful story about three baby owls Sarah, Percy and Bill who wake up one night to find their mum has gone. They decide to sit on a branch alongside each other and wait for her return, listening to the terrifying sounds of the dark night. After a long wait she returns, the owls jump with joy and welcoming her into their warm arms. I think this book is perfect for primary school children age 5-10 and could easily be integrated into many areas within English. Firstly, it would be interesting to do a shared writing task to discuss the personalities of the three owls throughout the story. We could ask the children to pick out some specific language to give evidence to their ideas. We would also be able to ask the children to make predictions from the illustration at the start of the story, such as where do they think mummy owl has gone, and how she might feel leaving her children. ( feeling alone is something all children can relate to, losing a parent in a shop for example, so a opportunity for rich discussion)
The book can also be used in other areas of the curriculum, such as science, we can look at the environment of the woods and the adaptations the owls have to survive in that area, as well as linking it into forest school walks.We can also incorporate drama into English by encouraging the children to create freeze frames expressing key feelings of the owl at particular times in the book.
Overall, I think this book is perfect for children, relatable, well punctuated and full of beautiful illustrations.
The book can also be used in other areas of the curriculum, such as science, we can look at the environment of the woods and the adaptations the owls have to survive in that area, as well as linking it into forest school walks.We can also incorporate drama into English by encouraging the children to create freeze frames expressing key feelings of the owl at particular times in the book.
Overall, I think this book is perfect for children, relatable, well punctuated and full of beautiful illustrations.
July 7, 2012
Once there were three little owl babies. There were two brothers and one sister. The lived in a hollow tree with their mommy. One night they awoke and their mother was gone. The babies waited inside the tree for a very long time then came outside to look for her. The three began to miss her very much, especially Bill. They knew they all had to be brave. They sat closer and closer together. They thought a lot and closed their eyes wishing their mommy would return soon. And, she did. The owl babies were so excited to see her they bounced on the branch. The mommy wondered what all the fuss was about since she always returned. Once the babies thought about it they were no longer worried and knew that when she left she would always come back.
This little story is about separation anxiety that children experience. It is well done using rhyme and soft suspense. The mommy offers reassurance and all are comfortable in the end.. The illustrations are very well done and in such a manner to appeal to children of all ages.
A learning extension might include having the children list things that make them afraid, such as mommy leaving, and have them draw pictures of their families together.
This little story is about separation anxiety that children experience. It is well done using rhyme and soft suspense. The mommy offers reassurance and all are comfortable in the end.. The illustrations are very well done and in such a manner to appeal to children of all ages.
A learning extension might include having the children list things that make them afraid, such as mommy leaving, and have them draw pictures of their families together.
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October 30, 2012Owl babies is a lovely story about three owls Sarah, penny and Bill who wake up to find that their mother is gone from their nest. Bill cries for mummy while the other two owls comfort him and reassure him that mother owl will be back. Each of the three owls have their own individual personality. Sarah is the wise one, Penny the middle one tries to be brave and Bill who is the baby who is in need of his mother the most. when mother owl returns after hunting the owls realise that there is nothing to be scared about because mummy owl will always return to them. I really enjoyed this book because I think Early years children can relate to this story as they also experience separation from their mother when starting Nursery and Reception. The individual personalities of the three owls portray a real family.
Owl babies can be linked with other parts of the curriculum such as in science they can look at the parts of an owl e.g beek, feathers, wings etc and in art they can make their own owls and nests using different materials. children can also do role play being dressed up as owls and acting out as the three owls using speech. This book would be suitable for reception to key stage one children.
Owl babies can be linked with other parts of the curriculum such as in science they can look at the parts of an owl e.g beek, feathers, wings etc and in art they can make their own owls and nests using different materials. children can also do role play being dressed up as owls and acting out as the three owls using speech. This book would be suitable for reception to key stage one children.
December 21, 2020
Sarah, Percy and Bill (poor little Bill) have been waiting for mother owl to return from her night hunting. Deep in the wood, as the dark night deepens shadows and odd noise haunt the air, the fret and worry of being alone builds up in our owlets even though Sarah, the oldest, tries to reassure her two younger siblings. Yet before they get too scared mother arrives, swooping silently through the dark to comfort them all.
This book has certainly done the rounds at home, at school and in teacher training and it will always remain a favourite. Its play between word and picture is deceptively simple but this is Waddell, one of our finest storytellers, and he of Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? fame: subtle, repetitive language play is his speciality.
Then there is Benson’s fathomless dark and soft-feathered mummy owl that make this book such an alluring treasure. A story that explores childhood anxieties in a sweet way with rich double-spread illustrations that will sweep you off your perch.
This book has certainly done the rounds at home, at school and in teacher training and it will always remain a favourite. Its play between word and picture is deceptively simple but this is Waddell, one of our finest storytellers, and he of Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? fame: subtle, repetitive language play is his speciality.
Then there is Benson’s fathomless dark and soft-feathered mummy owl that make this book such an alluring treasure. A story that explores childhood anxieties in a sweet way with rich double-spread illustrations that will sweep you off your perch.
June 30, 2016
Every year in the fall our combined editors organize a special week in which they promote children's books. A lot of activities and special attention is given at schools. It's also a promotion to get children to read more. Every year there is a special theme. This book went with the theme: Birds and other animals.
As I love reading I volunteered at school to promote this theme among the collegues. In a workshop I saw this picture book. An actor was reading and playing the text. I loved it so much that in the past years I always remembered this book and especially the quote: "Mammie moet komen, piepte kleine Wim. (Mommy must come, squeaked little William - translated with Google). That quote is repeated on almost every page, which made the story so sweet and nice.
This year I finally decided to buy the book and have fun.
I had time to watch the dvd which comes with the book. Lovely. Text as in the book and the main characters: Sara, Peter and little William and Mother Owl move along the backdrop of their home forest.
As I love reading I volunteered at school to promote this theme among the collegues. In a workshop I saw this picture book. An actor was reading and playing the text. I loved it so much that in the past years I always remembered this book and especially the quote: "Mammie moet komen, piepte kleine Wim. (Mommy must come, squeaked little William - translated with Google). That quote is repeated on almost every page, which made the story so sweet and nice.
This year I finally decided to buy the book and have fun.
I had time to watch the dvd which comes with the book. Lovely. Text as in the book and the main characters: Sara, Peter and little William and Mother Owl move along the backdrop of their home forest.
January 8, 2014
This is a GREAT book! Forget all those sugar-coated nature stories for babies. This is the story of 3 little baby owls who are alone on their branch at night. In the dark. Waiting for their mommy. Where is she? She is out hunting for dinner--mice. Very beautiful drawings of the little owls and their mom. Max has this book in NYC so I read it for Emerson earlier this year. Today, at the library there was a very nice owl display put up by one of the librarians. All books about owls (and little owl figurines) and I saw this book and checked it out.
February 22, 2008
Three very cute and cuddly (and slightly anxious) owl babies wake up to find their Owl Mother gone! Sarah, Percy, and Bill (the babies), each weigh in with where they think she's gone and what they think they should do. The illustrations are beautifully done, with a lot of contrast between the dark forest at night and the colorful area immediately surrounding the babies. Gentle humor and a reunion with mom at the end make for a comforting and delightful read.
January 4, 2025
This was one of my favourites growing up, and I’m so glad my kids love it too. It’s such a beautiful and heart warming story of three little owlets and the live they have for their Mummy. The illustrations are beautiful too.
A - “5 stars because I love the babies! They are very cute, the pictures are good and I like when the Mummy is there.”
A - “5 stars because I love the babies! They are very cute, the pictures are good and I like when the Mummy is there.”
March 2, 2022
Such a delightful picture book that explores anxieties with young babies as they wonder where their mother is.
The Three young owls awake in their home in a tree alone and each deal with the worry of being alone in their own way.
The eldest Sarah trys to reassure her two younger brothers, Paul seems to take comfort whilst the youngest Bill keeps calling for his mummy.
The story is a perfect way to explain to young children that when waking from a nap in their cot, a familiar face will soon be with them.
The Three young owls awake in their home in a tree alone and each deal with the worry of being alone in their own way.
The eldest Sarah trys to reassure her two younger brothers, Paul seems to take comfort whilst the youngest Bill keeps calling for his mummy.
The story is a perfect way to explain to young children that when waking from a nap in their cot, a familiar face will soon be with them.
July 19, 2025
A nice story by Martin Waddell about the anxieties of the owl babies of the title, with really lovely illustrations by Patrick Benson.
My kids enjoyed this one and why wouldn't they, what's not to like? There's mild jeopardy throughout and of course a reassuringly happy conclusion to end with.
My kids enjoyed this one and why wouldn't they, what's not to like? There's mild jeopardy throughout and of course a reassuringly happy conclusion to end with.
February 21, 2021
Adorable
August 30, 2015
Owl babies is a story about 3 baby owls, Sarah, Percy and Bill. The three baby owl live with their mother in the hole of a tree. One day Sarah, Percy and Bill wake up and their mother is gone. She is nowhere to be seen. The owl babies start wondering where their mother has gone. The babies miss their mother very much, especially Bill. There is a memorable sentence said by Bill in the book ‘Where is my mummy?’ young children can relate to Bill’s anxiousness. Mother owl finally appears at the end of the story and she says to them they should know that she will always come back. This is a lovely story and can be used to help in transition when young children start nursery or school. The illustration in the book are very nice and Bills memorable sentence can encourage young children in joining in when reading the book to a child or group of children. This can be used in the early years foundation stage as the book of the week especially in the first week when children feel the separation from their parents and to ease their separation.
My favourite character was Sarah as the eldest she made her siblings feel safe. ‘I think we should all sit on my branch.’ Sarah said. The owl babies sat on one branch so they will not be scared and feel safe. This book is suitable for 3-7 year of age. The book has sad moments, and happy moments that we can all relate to. It encourage us to think and this book can help children to think what they would do in Sarah, Percy and Bills situation. This book can be used for curriculum support especially PHSE (personal, social and health education).
My favourite character was Sarah as the eldest she made her siblings feel safe. ‘I think we should all sit on my branch.’ Sarah said. The owl babies sat on one branch so they will not be scared and feel safe. This book is suitable for 3-7 year of age. The book has sad moments, and happy moments that we can all relate to. It encourage us to think and this book can help children to think what they would do in Sarah, Percy and Bills situation. This book can be used for curriculum support especially PHSE (personal, social and health education).
March 20, 2014
Book Review 8- Owl Babies – Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson
This book is very popular. It is about three owl babies (Sarah, Percy and Bill) who are all sitting on a branch in the dark woods. Their mother is not with them and they start to worry and get upset that she may not return. It makes the readers wonder about the whereabouts of the mother and you are left guessing if she will return to her children or not. This book is visually mysterious and pictures and text are in line with the theme of this picture book. This book is in a different style to the normal childrens books with their bright and bold colours, but I believe this is one of the reasons that Owl babies stands out even more. This book comes in a large big book edition so it is perfect for reading in class to children. It can address issues around being worried, upset and anxious. The visual pictures in this book are stunning and eye-catching and definitely have been used to draw the audience in. In my opinion I believe the book is great for early year children to key stage one. However, I know many adults also cherish this book as it brings back memories of childhood and has a universal message within it.
This book is very popular. It is about three owl babies (Sarah, Percy and Bill) who are all sitting on a branch in the dark woods. Their mother is not with them and they start to worry and get upset that she may not return. It makes the readers wonder about the whereabouts of the mother and you are left guessing if she will return to her children or not. This book is visually mysterious and pictures and text are in line with the theme of this picture book. This book is in a different style to the normal childrens books with their bright and bold colours, but I believe this is one of the reasons that Owl babies stands out even more. This book comes in a large big book edition so it is perfect for reading in class to children. It can address issues around being worried, upset and anxious. The visual pictures in this book are stunning and eye-catching and definitely have been used to draw the audience in. In my opinion I believe the book is great for early year children to key stage one. However, I know many adults also cherish this book as it brings back memories of childhood and has a universal message within it.
October 4, 2018
Really useful children's picture books when beginning to look at speech. The speech is clearly displayed in the book for children to experience. From this speech, children can start to develop their skill of understanding characters and creating character profiles based on the book's content. They will be able to identify the different owls' character traits and their differing personalities from the speech. You can then ask the children what does their speech tells us about each character? How are the characters different? How do they feel? Can also discuss with children the idea that this book contains patterns and repetition. For example: "I want my mummy!" It will not take them very long to guess what Bill is about to say on the next page! Also, an excellent book as it relates to the forest/the woods and night time. So, it may also fit into topic work if you are exploring anything along those lines. In addition, an excellent shared reading book as it also provides lots of questions to ask the children!
March 26, 2020
Sarah, Percy and Bill - three very anxious owlets - await their mother's return in this adorable reassurance tale meant for very young children. When their owl mother leaves the nest one night, the owl babies wonder where she has gone, and become more and more frightened, huddling together for comfort. "I want my mommy," Bill keeps repeating, and eventually, SHE COMES...
Patrick Benson's evocative ink and watercolor illustrations, which show the owl babies, fluffy and wide-eyed, against the dark backdrop of the forest, are the perfect accompaniment to Martin Waddell's simple narrative. The scene when Mother Owl returns, with its flapping and dancing, is humorous and heartwarming. Recommended by my friend Lori, I can see why this was one of her son's bedtime favorites!
Patrick Benson's evocative ink and watercolor illustrations, which show the owl babies, fluffy and wide-eyed, against the dark backdrop of the forest, are the perfect accompaniment to Martin Waddell's simple narrative. The scene when Mother Owl returns, with its flapping and dancing, is humorous and heartwarming. Recommended by my friend Lori, I can see why this was one of her son's bedtime favorites!
September 5, 2011
This is a great book which could support teachers to settle young children into school or nursery. It is about 3 siblings discovering their owl mother has disappeared and are left in a scary forest. The siblings provide each other with comfort and support. The baby owl repeats the well known phrase, 'I want my mummy', which can relate to settling in periods, where children who are left in a nursery/school for the first time they may also repeat this phrase. Fortunately the owl mother does come back, therefore this book could provide children with the reassurance that their mother will come back to pick them up from school/nursery.
January 15, 2019
In Owl Babies, three little owls awake one night to find their mother has gone from their home. This sweet and beautifully illustrated story addresses separation anxiety and reassures young children that their parent will always return to them.
I loved the story and the approach of this book but I do feel like the images, although stunning, are a bit repetitive across the pages, meaning younger children will find it harder to engage with it. That being said, I think my children will love this book when they're a little bit older. A lovely, gentle tale.
I loved the story and the approach of this book but I do feel like the images, although stunning, are a bit repetitive across the pages, meaning younger children will find it harder to engage with it. That being said, I think my children will love this book when they're a little bit older. A lovely, gentle tale.
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