BookOwl Picks: Books About Owls

It is time...for BookOwl to recommend books about owls! (Books and owls: always a winning combination!) Here are my reading recommendations, both fiction and nonfiction, featuring this fascinating bird of prey. 

Wesley the Owl by Stacy O'Brien

Wesley the Owl is a humorous and poignant story of Caltech biologist Stacey O'Brien taking in a baby barn owl with nerve damage in one wing. Thus begins a two-decade chronicle of Stacey raising the barn owl chick, Wesley, from baby to full-grown adult. It offers not only a moving personal journey from the caretaker's perspective, but an interesting look into barn owl development and the complications of taking on the responsibility of raising an owl that can't survive in the wild. Wesley has his own unique personality, and it was a treat as the reader to get to know this owl and follow his story from beginning to end. I'll admit, this one you need to read with a box of tissues.

Owls of the Eastern Ice by Jonathan C. Slaght

Owls of the Eastern Ice is one conservation biologist's story about studying an elusive and rare owl, known as the Blakiston's fish owl. This owl, the largest in the world, is found in only a few places in the world, including eastern Russia. Over a five-year period, Jonathan Slaght and his team try to locate specimens of this endangered bird of prey, in the hopes of establishing conservation zones to protect its population. An epic journey through nature and a peek into the less glamorous daily tasks of the conservationist, Owls of the Eastern Ice is a nonfiction book with everything you could ask for. 

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

Owl Moon is on this list because it is a classic, award-winning picture book about a girl and her father going owling late at night. Filled with beautiful watercolor illustrations, this book evokes both the quiet peace of winter and the even quieter presence of the owl. Owl Moon was one of my favorites growing up and I still enjoy it as an adult. (I smile every time I encounter the book at the library or in a book store.) It's a story about patience and perseverance and the wonder of nature. No spoilers on whether or not the owl makes an appearance! Owl Moon is ideal for both individual and group reading.  

An Owl in the House by Bernd Heinrich (adapted by Alice Calaprice)

This book is in the vein of biography/memoir, not unlike Wesley the Owl. The author, Bernd Heinrich, discovers an injured great horned owl chick and decides to take it in and care for it. Bubo, as the owl becomes known as (a play on the scientific name for great horned owls, bubo virginianus), and the scientist become fast friends. Even if it does start off a bit shaky! This diary is peppered with photos and drawings of Bubo and his peculiarities. A treat to read for anyone curious about owls and who wishes to learn more, such as what to do if you find an orphaned baby bird and how to keep a scientific journal. 

Owls: A Guide for Ornithologists by Ron Freethy

Owls is one of many great reference resources on this bird of prey. There are 134 species of owl around the world, all covered by this encyclopedic volume. My favorite species of owl, the snowy owl, is one of many featured species explored in detail. With the exception of rare owl species with smaller populations that science doesn't know much about, most species have a decent feature about everything from their habitat ranges to breeding habits and diet. For a more general overview on owls, please see the introduction. Does a decent job of explaining owls to someone who does not know much about them. Overall, a highly-researched, quality volume handy to keep around!

Happy reading!

--BookOwl