This Big Book edition is perfect for sharing with groups of young readers.

A charming, reassuring book for any child who has ever worried about Mummy leaving them alone, Owl Babies is a beautifully illustrated and exquisitely executed picture book to warm the cockles of the heart.

As three adorable Owl chicks sit on a branch in the woods their fears and concerns become very real as they worry that their mum may not return. The striking, dark yet somehow comforting illustrations cleverly enhance their mood as they sit, waiting and thinking, until finally all is well again. Enchanting, divinely different and ultimately reassuring, Owl Babies is a dream of a book. (Ages 2 to 5) --Susan Harrison

A regular size edition is also available.

Illustrated by Patrick Benson

On a tree in the woods, three owl babies sit and think and wait for their Owl Mother to come home

"I want my mummy!" When their Owl Mother goes off hunting one night, the three baby owls sit and think (owls think a lot) as they wait for her return. Children will love snuggling up to watch the animated version of this charming tale from the acclaimed "King Rollo" Films - accompanied by specially composed music and narrated by Emilia Fox - and following all the action in the classic picture book.

This is another delightful story from the man who brought us the wonderful "Little Bear" stories, which have been firm favourites in our house since my older son was a toddler. This edition is in a sturdy board book format, and is just the right size for little hands. It comes in a gift case with a cuddly baby owl. It makes an impressive looking package, and would be ideal as a gift for a birthday or Christmas. The story is about three baby owls who wake up one night to find their mum is missing. The older two think very carefully about where she might be, but poor little Bill just wants her back. This gives the perfect opportunity to explain why mums and dads disappear for hours to go to work or shopping or whatever. As time passes, the older owls begin to worry that she may not come back, again, providing an opening to discuss anxieties. Of course, mum comes back, and all the babies are delighted to see her.

The book is beautifully illustrated throughout, and the owls faces really do show how worried they are to find mum missing, and how pleased they are when she returns. Overall this is a beautiful story, the tale is pertinent to all toddlers, and the pictures are delightful. --Sally Hunt

In this slightly condensed board book version of the hardback edition, three baby owls anxiously await their mother's return when she ventures away from the nest one night: there's Sarah, the oldest and most confident, agreeable Percy and fretful little Bill, the youngest owl, who only wants his mum back. This gift set also includes a five-inch cuddly owl baby to help bring the story to life. This story itself represents somewhat of a variation on a theme of a couple of other books in my two-year old daughter's library: Hug by Jez Alborough and Bunny My Honey by Anita Jeram. In all three, a baby becomes separated from his mother only to be happily reunited with her by the end. Judging by my two-year old's reaction to this book, it's a theme that bears repeating and she's always particularly happy to share in the relief at the end of the book.

Patrick Benson's illustrations are both richly detailed and, with the stark contrast of the white owls against the blackness of the night and the owls' nest in the hole of a tree trunk, very effective in conveying the unsettled mood. I don't think you could go wrong with this set--it's a super book to cuddle up with at story time and would make an ideal gift for any toddler. --Ann Prahl

Owl Babies tells the story of three baby owls who wake up one night to find that their mother has gone. They sit outside on a branch waiting for her, worrying about what has happened to her, but much to their relief she does return. While in one way quite a serious story, expressing an anxiety that will be familiar to many young children--that their mother has left and won't return--there are some lovely humorous touches. There is some good repetition in the book--for example, Bill, who you assume is the smallest of the baby owls, says only, "I want my mummy" throughout, while the other two try and reassure themselves that their mother will return. Something else that is repeated several times is the phrase "all owls think a lot". Such repetition is great, if like my daughter your child likes to chip in when you are reading--once she had heard the story a few times she loved being able to anticipate and say these things herself.

The illustrations are very unusual, much more detailed and realistic than many children's books, with a dark background which is really quite atmospheric. For that reason, despite the fact that it is a board book, it is a book that is unlikely to appeal to very young children. My three-year-old daughter loved it; and it's children of around this age who will appreciate the message in the book--that their mother may be gone, but she will be back. The gift pack contains a very sweet cuddly white owl. There is something very appealing about bringing a book to life by owning one of the characters and in our case it led my daughter to ask questions about owls, so she certainly learnt quite a lot as well as acquiring a new cuddly toy. --Elizabeth Currie

Owl Babies is a very simple tale of owl chicks waiting for their mother to come back to the nest. It is written and illustrated beautifully, especially the moment when the mother owl returns through the dead of night back to the nest to her awaiting babies. My two-year-old loves listening to it and pointing out the birds. The repetition in the book helps learning for small children. On the plus side, Owl Babies is a good, quick bed-time story for animal loving children, and the illustrations are more realistic than many other children's cartoon books. This particular book is accompanied by a lovely quality owl baby in a gift box, which makes it ideal for a present and great for telling the story with. --Judith Catton

2008-07-12 Those who missed the point

Boy, did I hoot(sorry) at the couple of reviewers who rated this with 1 or 2 stars by over analysing and missing the point of this book. You idiots - KIDS LOVE THIS STORY. As a primary school teacher and father I can honestly say that this book rocks. Both my kids have loved this - the language used within does so much to engage and light the spark of reading in young children. They relate to the owl babies and bond with the reader due to the fantastic writing for little 'uns - top book.