Module 1: Owl at Home

Summary:
A beginning reader's companion, Owl at Home, follows Owl as he goes through everyday routines around his house. With very little dialogue, readers see what Owl is doing more than hear it through dialogue. Owl gets scared and then reassured throughout the five different stories. He doesn't do anything extraordinary or outlandish. It is,overall, a group of small stories that show Owl's life on his own.

Lobel, A. (1975). Owl at home. New York, NY: Harper & Row.

Review: School Library Journal

Owl at Home is the latest in Arnold Lobel’s long string of successes. Five brief episodes in Owl’s life are told simply, without the intrusion of any other characters, unless one counts Owl’s friend, the moon, or the two bumps underneath the bedcovers (his feet) that frighten him. Lobel’s illustrations are as imaginative and satisfying as ever and this will make  a worthy companion piece to Frog and Toad are Friends.

Ehlert, A. (1975). Beginning-to-read: Owl at home. School Library Journal, 22(4), 64.

 
My Impressions:
While the illustrations are quaint and calm, the events Owl experiences are not tranquil. Although nothing bad actually happens to Owl, there is a sense of unrest throughout the whole book and in each of the stories. The incidents of Owl in each of the stories are only loosely connected and related to each other. Most of the stories abruptly end leaving the book as a whole very disjointed and feeling uncomfortable. Owl isn't a very approachable character, but I suppose he seems realistic. The simple movements and actions of Owl make it effective reading for young children still learning basic functions of acting independently from their parents and the sequencing of what Owl does provides a straightforward structure for young readers. The illustrations match the actions in writing near exactly and provide the imagery needed for an effective picture book.
 
Library Use:
Owl at Home could be used as an example of what it looks like to take care of yourself and complete tasks. For an elementary library, this book could start the conversation toward personal hygiene and maintenance. The students could find personal health and hygiene books in the non-fiction section of the library after discussing what types of books they might want to check out to get information about those areas of life.