Baby Owl's Rescue

December 1, 2009
Gr 3-4-A carefully constructed scenario traces the rescue of a baby owl blown out of the nest in a storm. Fortuitously for the owlet, the tree is in the yard of a wildlife rehabilitator, so all is made right with the aid of some sticks, a laundry basket, and a team of obliging firefighters handily equipped with a cherry picker. Young Maddie and Max watch eagerly as their mom coordinates rescue efforts and provides pointers on procedures. The book concludes with pages of facts on great horned owls, a matching game, and instructions on handling injured or "owned" birds. Pleasantly instructive, with colorful realistic illustrations, this title might be a nice introduction to Susan Goodman's slightly more demanding "Animal Rescue: The Best Job There Is" (S & S, 2000) or Juliana Hatkoff's moving "Winter's Tail" (Scholastic, 2009)."Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY"

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