The Mixed-Up Owl

An owl comes to embrace its nocturnal nature in this moody story that revolves around finding one’s place. While other forest creatures sleep soundly at night, Owl lies awake, worrying why he can’t slumber. During the day, Owl attempts to get answers from other critters; exhausted throughout the unsuccessful quest, the feathered subject accidentally falls asleep in another nest, a moment whose cascading effects lead to a barrage of criticisms from the woodland community. After the resultant cacophony rouses Hedgehog, Owl realizes that one can sleep when one is tired—and that the forest is just as awake at night. Sowa’s narration aptly communicates Owl’s genuine confusion but questionably amplifies the bird’s isolating predicament via other animals’ truly alienating commentary. Rendered in grayscale with pale spots of color, Lorho’s pencil and paint artwork depicts the protagonist’s plight sympathetically as he moves toward the calm that comes with self-awareness. Ages 4–8. (July)