Owl Howl (Tuff Books) by Paul Friester, illustrated by Philippe Goosens Ages 3-5 28 pages NorthSouth June 2011 Board book     The forest animals hide in fear as they listen to the “hoo hoo” sound reverberating around them. They are relieved to discover the noise is coming from an owl, not a wolf, but they grow concerned when the owl won’t stop howling. Crow’s offer of friendship and Squirrel’s offer of food are turned down. A stag beetle and mole take their turn trying to calm the owl, but they are no substitute for what this owl needs. Parents will likely be familiar with what happens at the end of this book, but they may not predict it. Owl Howl is a Tuff Book, its pages featuring rounded corners and a smooth, almost plastic texture. This story is illustrated with scenes from the forest floor. The animals use what is available to them in their surroundings to try and soothe the young owl. Mole makes a necklace out of flowers, and a crow ties a cobweb around two trees to make a hammock. The story has a rhythm created by the animals’ interactions with each other (they ask the owl a question; the owl answers by howling), and this dialogue can be extended after the story ends. Readers can ask their audience of young listeners what they think caused the owl to howl. Owl Howl fits into a story time about mothers, hugs, or forgetfulness.     web reviews 7   Tanya Boudreau/2011 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)