The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark
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4.0 • 1 Rating
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- £2.99
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- £2.99
Publisher Description
‘I loved this book as a little girl and listening to my own children reading it has brought back so many wonderful memories. A comforting story to help children face their fears and grow in confidence with the help of others.’ – HRH The Duchess of Cambridge
Plop, the baby owl, is like every barn owl there ever was, except for one thing – he is afraid of the dark . . .
The dark is brimming with excitement and magic. As Plop ventures into the night, he meets a boy who shows him fireworks, a black cat who takes him exploring, a girl who tells him about Father Christmas, among other surprising discoveries . . .
Filled with gentle humour and heart-warming illustrations, this uplifting story about finding the courage to face your fears has been beloved of parents and children for decades – and its message of resilience is as timely as ever!
An abridged picture book edition.
Reviews
‘Utterly beguiling’ – Lucy Mangan, Guardian
About the author
Jill Tomlinson never intended to be a writer. She trained as an opera singer, and then decided to have a family whilst her voice matured. But illness intervened, and she had to find another outlet for her energies. She started on a journalism course, and by the third lesson decided she wanted to write for children. Her animal stories have been bestselling children’s books for nearly four decades.
Paul Howard has illustrated many award-winning books from authors such as Allan Ahlberg, Jeanne Willis and Michael Rosen, delighting children and reviewers across the world. Paul is probably best known as the illustrator of Jill Tomlinson’s animal stories. Paul lives with his family in Belfast.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Howard's glorious nocturnal illustrations give new life to the late British author's 1968 tale of an owlet frightened of the night. "The dark is scary," Plop tells Mommy Barn Owl, who wisely instructs him to learn a bit more about it before passing judgment. Soon, Plop is off seeking new acquaintances, both human and animal, who tell him their favorite things about the evening, from fireworks and campfire singalongs to viewing the constellations ("The dark is wondrous. Look through the telescope," says one gentleman he meets). Tomlinson's reassuring tale is aimed squarely at preschoolers, who will thrill to a familiar scenario played out in an unusual setting. Howard's expertly shaded pastels evoke the owls' feather-softness against full-bleed illustrations in glowing, naturalistic colors, which he augments with smaller sepia vignettes. One particularly memorable scene features a close-up of Plop flanked by his parents, the three of them staring out at readers with the sparkle of a fireworks display reflected in their large eyes. As for the round, plump and utterly fetching Plop himself, he's an irresistible ball of fluff who may well convert a host of readers to nighttime's appeal. Ages 3-up.
