Fly by Night

Pastel illustrations capture the changing hues of the day as Blink the baby owl impatiently watches the other animals of the forest and waits for night to come so he can take his first flight.

PreSchool-Grade 2-- Blink, a young owl, waits impatiently on his branch as the day goes by, fidgeting as he watches the sun come up and the birds and animals at play. He asks his mother again and again " 'Is it time?,' " to which she replies " 'Soon.' " When it is finally dark, it is "Time to fly," and Blink does, understanding at last that he is meant to fly by night. A quiet picture book, illustrated with luminous chalk pastel artwork that conveys a sense of the mystery of the forest, this could be used with Yolen's Owl Moon (Philomel, 1987) for a story time or unit about owls. Yolen's book is the more poetic, but this one contrasts nicely by presenting a simple, fanciful look from the owl's point of view. The book is well designed, with a clear text and plenty of white space. Slight, but pleasant enough.
- Judy Constantinides, East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library , LA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Blink, a restive fledgling owl, must wait out an interminable day for his first chance at flight. As butterflies flutter and a falcon soars, the owlet wonders, "When will it be my time?" "Soon," his mother replies, and urges the nocturnal creature to go back to sleep. Blink's protracted day, sadly, might seem neverending for the reader as well. Lambert's feathery chalk pastels, moreover, miss obvious opportunities for embellishing or otherwise augmenting the stagnant narrative. Still, fidgety youngsters who identify with Blink's impatience might find this tale cathartic, and the twist supplied by Blink's daytime slumbers will amuse those who must suffer the indignities of a nightly bedtime. Ages 3-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.