Too Much Outside?

Jane Yolen's Owl Moon, illustrated by John Schoenherr, is one of my favorite Caldecott winners (but not my very favorite-you're gonna have to wait for that one..oohh suspense).  It is the story of a little girl who goes on her first nighttime owling expedition with her father. I find it to be a sweet story filled with all of the excitement and responsibility of a child who is finally allowed to do something grown-ups do.

Leah loved this book.  She hooted along like the owls and was fascinated by each of the beautiful watercolor illustrations.  On one page it looks like the owl is flying right out of the page at you.  Once we got to this page she gasped and said, "I can fly like that?" and as soon as the book was over she ran around the kitchen hooting and "flying" around the kitchen.  Isn't it great how kids are inspired and engaged by story?

Hard to please Eva had a slightly different reaction. Though she was also intrigued by the story and hooted right along with us when asked for her reaction she said, "the story was good, the pictures were so-so."  "Why so-so?" I asked.  "It was too much outside," she answered.

Hooting along with the story...that's kids stuff.