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Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Hardwood Creek Library (Forest Lake) | PICTURE BOOK RUN | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Lake Elmo Library | EASY RUN | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | PICTURE BOOK RUN | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Out on a stargazing venture in this wordless picture book, Owly and Wormy discover that it's fine to be frightened--but it's better to be brave.
Owly and Wormy want to see the stars! So they gather their telescope and their lantern and head out into the dark night, all the way to the edge of their branch. Try as they might, though, they can only see leaves...and branches...and more leaves.
But these two friends are not about to let a little obstacle like foliage stop them. They head back home and stock up for a longer trip. Armed with camping gear, galoshes, and tasty treats--and their wits, of course!--Owly and Wormy set out once again. This time, though, there are even bigger challenges to face. What's that "screee" sound? What's that "click click clicking" sound?! And what happened to their telescope?!? Oh dear! But if they're brave enough, they just might discover that there are nearly as many new friends on the horizon to help them as there are stars in the sky.
Author Notes
Andy Runton has always loved to draw. After college, he began a career in corporate America, but left when he decided to follow his heart (and love of comic books). He hasn't looked back. Andy's artwork portrays his affection for wildlife, especially little birds. He says he is happiest when he's outside under a big Georgia sky. He lives in the greater-Atlanta area where he works full-time on Owly comics, books, and graphic novels. Visit him online at AndyRunton.com.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-If Owly and Wormy want to look at the stars at night, they will have to be resourceful, and brave. Lanterns and candles will make the darkness seem less scary, but the screeching noise they hear outside seems to be following them. When they lose their telescope on the way to their campsite, Owly hesitantly goes back into the woods to retrieve it. Instead of running into a scary monster in the dark, though, he meets a trio of friendly bats who help Wormy enjoy the stars despite being surrounded by the darkness of night. This is Runton's second wordless picture book based on the graphic-novel series. Simple illustrations and punctuation marks (a sad face followed by a question mark) replace the words that would normally appear in the characters' word balloons. Runton's charming drawings add to the irresistibility of this touching story.-Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In Owly and Wormy's second picture book, the unlikely companions (who first starred in a series of comic books) search for a way to see the stars through their telescope. Mostly wordless graphic novel-style panels in deep violets and greens show the friends embarking on a camping trip to get a good view (Owly's tree house has too many leafy obstructions and other problems). Runton's streamlined storytelling has the friends speaking in rebuses and images instead of words; when Owly gets lost in the woods, his thought bubble-joined by a question mark-is filled with four arrows pointing different ways. Bravery, inventiveness, and friendship factor strongly in a clever nocturnal adventure that's a pleasure to decode. Ages 3-7. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
The small owl with big eyes and equally outsized heart makes new friends on a nocturnal outing. Discovering that their view of the sky has been blocked by tree leaves, Owly and his little vermiform housemate march out to set up their new telescope on a woodland hilltop. When heavy rains drive them into a cave that night, and eerie "Clickety skreeeeeeeee" noises send them scrambling back out, the telescope goes missing. This prompts Owly to screw his courage to the sticking place, leave his shivering buddy behind and set off on a search. As in Owly's previous picture-book (Friends All Aflutter, 2011) and graphic-novel appearances, the tale is told in big, easy-to-grasp sequential cartoons, with wordless pictures and signs in balloons creating a nonverbal language that serves just fine in place of narration or dialogue. Owly returns in triumph with not only the telescope, but a set of friendly bats to explain the scary sound effects. In a final bit of both plot and emotional resolution, Wormy's fear of the dark is transformed to delight as the camp's candle is blown out, and the seemingly empty skies overhead suddenly blaze with stars. Young readers and pre-readers alike will respond strongly to the tale's elemental drama and clearly defined emotional arc. (Graphic picture book. 2-5)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
