This post is about some of our favorite owl books for kids. These books are fiction and feature owls as the main characters.
Adorable, scary, fascinating, and evasive, owls hold many characteristics that make them perfect material for picture books!
Owls are often portrayed as wise, powerful, and wary. What I love most about these picture books is how approachable they make these elusive birds of prey.
The owls in these stories may not be as majestic as Hedwig from Harry Potter, but they are a fun way to introduce owls to your child.
The cute illustrations, childish characters, and heartwarming stories make these mysterious creatures relatable.
Although these books are all works of fiction, they can still get the conversation about owls started and I hope that they will spark your child’s interest in learning more about these nocturnal birds!
After our recent owl babies craft, my daughter has been asking lots of questions about owls. She’s particularly interested in how they can turn their heads almost all the way around – it’s pretty freaky!
Read on for 13 of our favorite owl books for kids!
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Owl Books for Kids Ages 0 – 3
What a Hoot! by Fran Preston-Gannon
This board book combines all my favorite things about books for babies – rhyming, adorable and colorful illustrations, and simple concepts. A fun book about opposites, this is a fabulous book to add to any little one’s first library!
Little Owl’s Night by Divya Srinivasan
Another great option for the youngest of readers! This cute book about Little Owl provides many opportunities to introduce animals and sounds to your baby. The perfect bedtime book!
Little Hoot by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Little Hoot loves bedtime, but he needs to learn how to stay up all night if he wants to grow into a big, strong owl. This hilarious story flips the script on kids stalling at bedtime as Little Hoot’s parents try to convince him to stay away just a few minutes more!
Owl Sees Owl by Laura Goodwin
With only a few words per page, this book is great for little readers. It follows the adventure of a young owl as he leaves the nest alone for the first time.
Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor
Owls are birds of prey and this book introduces that concept in a clever way as Hoot Owl attempts to catch his dinner through disguise. This one made us giggle for sure!
Owl Books for Ages 3 – 6
The Littlest Owl by Caroline Pitcher
A special story that reminds us it’s ok to be small, this book will encourage your child to not only be brave and stand tall, but that kindness to others goes a long way in making friends.
Brave Enough For Two by Jonathan D. Voss
Books about stuffed animal friends are close to my heart, and we absolutely love this one! Olive and her best friend Hoot go on a wild adventure, proving that true friendship can get you through most anything.
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
This book not only made our owl list, but has been featured in our reviews. A sweet story about three little owls learning how to cope with being away from their mother for the first time, we absolutely adore Owl Babies.
Quinn’s Promise Rock by Christie Thomas
This beautiful faith-based story is a wonderful reminder to children that even in scary times, they are never alone because God is always with them. A particularly good read for children experiencing a lot of anxiety or a family life transition. This book was recommended by a Book Mama Life reader and I am so glad we learned about it!
10, 9, 8, Owls Up Late by Georgiana Deutsch
My daughter and I love reading this book before bed! Similar to the ever-popular “5 little monkeys” this fun book counts down 10 rambunctious owls as they head off to their family nest at bedtime.
Little Owl’s Bedtime by Debi Gliori
Little Owl does NOT want to go to sleep; he is too excited about seeing his grandparents the next day. This book gave us lots of giggles – the illustrations are very funny and as a mom, it struck me as a very accurate depiction of bedtime with small children 😉
If you love Little Owl, check out the rest of the series by Debi Gliori – her work does not disappoint!
The Little White Owl by Tracey Corderoy
Little White Owl leaves his home in search of friends. What he finds are some very stuck up owls who refuse to be kind to him because he isn’t colorful like them. That is until Little White Owl shows them just how beautiful being unique really is.
The first time we read this story, my daughter had tons of questions about why the owls were not kind. It allowed us to have an organic conversation about bullying, differences, and what makes each of us special. Highly recommend this book!
Owly by Mike Thaler
The perfect book for any parent with an eternally curious child. I especially love how Owly’s mother encourages him to seek out the answers to his questions. Some questions don’t have answers, but it’s always a good idea to encourage that curiosity!
These books show that owls make endearing picture book characters!
Some of them stuck with the traditional representation of owls being serene and wise, while others flipped the script to create memorable moments of fun.
I hope you find a reason to snuggle up and read one of these owl books with your kiddos. They would make a great start to a unit study on owls for homeschool preschool!
Looking for more owl fun? Here are some great crafts based on owl books for kids:
- Yarn Owl Craft by Project Kid
- Paper Plate Owl by Frugal Fun
- Snowy Owl Craft by Fantastic Fun and Learning
- Paper Cup Yarn Owl by Kids Craft Room
Do you have a favorite book featuring an owl as the main character? Let us know in the comments!
Happy reading,
Looking for your next favorite story? Find more wonderful reading recommendations by checking out our book lists.
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I’m glad you liked Quinn’s Promise Rock! We’ll have to check out a few more of these.
Thank you again for sharing! There is a sequel, Quinn Says Goodbye, that I want to read now too!