Tiny Owl's Scary Day

by Petr Horácek, Petr Horácek (Illustrator)

Overview

A little owl is determined to explore the world in the daytime. But is that a good idea? Petr Horácek brings his vibrant and visual humor to a cautionary tale of curiosity—and a mother’s comfort.

Dawn is coming, and Tiny Owl really wants to explore the day. Mama Owl explains that owls need to sleep when the sun is up so they can fly at night. But Tiny Owl isn’t sleepy! And she isn’t scared! So when Mama is sound asleep, Tiny Owl sneaks out of the nest. Flying in the sunshine is so exciting! Resting near some beautiful flowers is lovely! (What is that swishing sound in the grass?) Watching the fish in the river is fun! (Is that a creeping noise by the water’s edge?) The noises may be a little scary, but Tiny Owl feels safe here on a branch with lots of other birds. Wait, why is everyone suddenly flying off, leaving her alone? She wants to go home! With expressive art, rich in color and texture, acclaimed creator Petr Horácek tells a classic tale of a child’s venture out of the nest, knowing a mother’s protective love awaits her return.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536249385
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	07/22/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	20 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Petr Horácek grew up in Prague and trained as a graphic designer, illustrator, and painter. He has written and illustrated many books for children, including A Best Friend for Bear, Animal Opposites, Grumpy Duck, The Greedy Goat, Puffin Peter, The Best Place in the World, and Who Is the Biggest? He lives in England.

I grew up in Prague in the Czech Republic. Just outside our flat there was a wood where I spent lots of time playing with friends. We would climb on piles of soil or build bunkers from forgotten builder’s materials. I always wanted to be an illustrator, but I preferred to look at the pictures inside the books rather than to read them. I would listen to the story or watch a film and then fill up my sketchbook with pictures and images from the story. I started to read books quite late, but I haven’t stopped since.

I studied at the Academy of Fine Art in Prague, where I painted and drew for six years. Some of my pictures were as big as a double bed! Every autumn the teachers drove us to the countryside, where they left us for a few weeks (once even a few months!) to paint and draw the landscape. Since then I have adored the autumn. One day an English girl named Claire came into my studio and before I knew it, I was living in England. We are married now and I love England, but it took me some time to learn English—in fact, I’m still learning.

My two daughters, Tereza and Cecilia, are the biggest inspiration for my work. I started to work on children’s books when Tereza was born. For my first books, Strawberries Are Red and What Is Black and White?, I received the Books for Children Newcomer Award in 2001. It was presented to me in a restaurant and we had a nice lunch. I still remember the lunch and I still have the trophy. I like doing novelty books best. I think it’s very exciting looking through the holes in the pages and seeing what will happen if I turn one more page!

Three Things You Might Not Know About Me:

1. I love children’s drawings.
2. I can’t spell—it’s rather embarrassing.
3. I like listening to radio plays.

Editorial Reviews

Horácek (A Best Friend for Bear) conveys a secure feeling of home and family with this onomatopoeia-filled adventure about a nocturnal youth’s day out. . . .Dramatically visualized via color-saturated mixed-media artwork, close calls with predators unfold over several pages, generating riveting beats of suspense and relief that draw to a peaceful end.
—Publishers Weekly

The narrative provides the sweet reassurance that parents protect their little ones, even when children can’t see them. Horácek’s engaging mixed-media art coupled with the story’s comforting message will resonate with parents and curious youngsters.
—Booklist

From the Publisher

2025-04-19
For a nocturnal creature, the daytime can be exciting—and even a little dangerous.

As dawn approaches, grayish-white Tiny Owl declares that she’s not a bit tired; she’s curious to explore and see what life is like by day! She sneaks out of the tree hollow where she and brown-feathered Mama Owl make their home. Tiny Owl plays chase with some other birds and rests in a field. Upon hearing threatening noises, she flies away, not looking back. Then she stops by a river to admire the bright-colored fish but then hears a different noise and takes off again. She attempts to rest with some other birds, but they scatter, and Tiny Owl races back home, alarmed. But no one is there, until…Mama Owl swoops in, exhausted from following Tiny Owl all day, protecting her. Relying on simple prose and repetition, this quaint story treads familiar ground. While it works as a cautionary tale for youngsters not to wander off, it also reassures them that their caregivers will nevertheless be there no matter what. The illustrations show Mama Owl chasing away the animals that threaten Tiny Owl (a cat and a fox), so they know Tiny Owl is never in too much danger. The mixed-media artwork has a juvenile charm, though it does appear quite rough and inconsistent at times, like the dark lines around Tiny Owl’s face that sometimes appear heavier.

Warm fare for youngsters eager for adventure—but still in need of some parental reassurance.(Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews