Owl Babies
The most useful book in existence for the week before nursery starts.
Why they ask for it again
Bill the smallest owl says the one thing every small child wants to say, over and over, and then Mummy comes back.
Our review
Three baby owls wake up in the night to find their mother gone. Sarah and Percy try to reason it out. Bill, the littlest, says "I want my mummy!" and nothing else, every single time. Then she swoops back, and it is the best moment in all of toddler literature.
That repeated line is doing a great deal of work. Your child gets to hear their own worry said out loud, and to hear that it ends well. Patrick Benson paints the owls fluffy and huge-eyed on a nearly black night, so the fear is real but the softness never leaves the page.
How to read it aloud
Make Bill very small and very sad, and leave a beat before each "I want my mummy!" By the third time your child will say it for you.
The catch
Bring a tissue if you are reading this the night before their first day. That one is for you.
Is it scary?
The dark and a missing parent are the whole subject, but the return is quick and complete. Very reassuring by the end.
Books like Owl Babies, and what to read next
The Invisible StringFor when they are older and the separation is longer.
Goodnight MoonKeeps the calm, night-time mood, with no worry attached.
The GruffaloWhen they are ready for a dark forest with some jokes in it.
Also good for
Quick answers
What age is Owl Babies for?
Ages 1–4. The sweet spot, in our opinion, is age 2 to 3.
How long does Owl Babies take to read aloud?
About 4 minutes at a calm bedtime pace, by our estimate. Allow longer if you do the voices.
Is Owl Babies scary?
The dark and a missing parent are the whole subject, but the return is quick and complete. Very reassuring by the end.
What should we read after Owl Babies?
We would suggest The Invisible String, Goodnight Moon, The Gruffalo.