To See an Owl
An endearing story about a girl's efforts to spot an owl from the Caldecott Medal winning creator of Wolf in the Snow. This audiobook that encourages patience and perseverance will resonate with listeners of all ages who have longed to see one of these elusive creatures in the natural world.

When will I find you?
Where could you be?
What will it take?
To see an owl.

Silent and wide-eyed, owls are hidden creatures of the night. Janie has always dreamed of finding one. She searches everywhere for signs of an owl - on the open prairie for short-eared owls, on the beach for snowy owls, and for great horned owls in the woods near her home. But months go by, and she sees no owls. She wonders, what will it take to see an owl?

Her teacher, Mr. Koji, a fellow bird-lover, shares that he, too, waited a long time to see an owl. He assures her, “If you are very quiet and very patient, and if you look very close, you might just find them.”

When the snow begins to fall, Janie and her mother head into the woods again, and as she looks carefully, hidden high up in the trees, what she sees is pure magic.

From Matthew Cordell, the creator of Wolf in the Snow that was awarded the Caldecott Medal, comes this inspiring story about quiet perseverance that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the anticipation of discovering a rare treasure in the wild.
1145580015
To See an Owl
An endearing story about a girl's efforts to spot an owl from the Caldecott Medal winning creator of Wolf in the Snow. This audiobook that encourages patience and perseverance will resonate with listeners of all ages who have longed to see one of these elusive creatures in the natural world.

When will I find you?
Where could you be?
What will it take?
To see an owl.

Silent and wide-eyed, owls are hidden creatures of the night. Janie has always dreamed of finding one. She searches everywhere for signs of an owl - on the open prairie for short-eared owls, on the beach for snowy owls, and for great horned owls in the woods near her home. But months go by, and she sees no owls. She wonders, what will it take to see an owl?

Her teacher, Mr. Koji, a fellow bird-lover, shares that he, too, waited a long time to see an owl. He assures her, “If you are very quiet and very patient, and if you look very close, you might just find them.”

When the snow begins to fall, Janie and her mother head into the woods again, and as she looks carefully, hidden high up in the trees, what she sees is pure magic.

From Matthew Cordell, the creator of Wolf in the Snow that was awarded the Caldecott Medal, comes this inspiring story about quiet perseverance that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the anticipation of discovering a rare treasure in the wild.
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To See an Owl

To See an Owl

by Matthew Cordell

Narrated by Felisha Wong

Unabridged — 9 minutes

To See an Owl

To See an Owl

by Matthew Cordell

Narrated by Felisha Wong

Unabridged — 9 minutes

Audiobook (Digital)

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Overview

An endearing story about a girl's efforts to spot an owl from the Caldecott Medal winning creator of Wolf in the Snow. This audiobook that encourages patience and perseverance will resonate with listeners of all ages who have longed to see one of these elusive creatures in the natural world.

When will I find you?
Where could you be?
What will it take?
To see an owl.

Silent and wide-eyed, owls are hidden creatures of the night. Janie has always dreamed of finding one. She searches everywhere for signs of an owl - on the open prairie for short-eared owls, on the beach for snowy owls, and for great horned owls in the woods near her home. But months go by, and she sees no owls. She wonders, what will it take to see an owl?

Her teacher, Mr. Koji, a fellow bird-lover, shares that he, too, waited a long time to see an owl. He assures her, “If you are very quiet and very patient, and if you look very close, you might just find them.”

When the snow begins to fall, Janie and her mother head into the woods again, and as she looks carefully, hidden high up in the trees, what she sees is pure magic.

From Matthew Cordell, the creator of Wolf in the Snow that was awarded the Caldecott Medal, comes this inspiring story about quiet perseverance that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the anticipation of discovering a rare treasure in the wild.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

★ "A title easily summed up in a single word: magic." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Taut, suspense-heightening sentences combine with deliberate pacing as well as tender observations of earnest efforts and mentorship." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "The stunning story is a splendid celebration of the wonder of nature....A particularly pleasurable exploration of the magic that the world reveals to those who approach it with patience." —Booklist, starred review

★ "Children often dive wholeheartedly into their interests....When something sparks their curiosity, they explore it with pure enthusiasm, driven by a sense of wonder and joy. This is precisely what Matthew Cordell captures so skillfully in To See an Owl, using plain language and short, impactful phrasing." —BookPage, starred review

"Gentle and earnest....The laser-focus on one single thing will ring true for many kids and adults alike, so current (or former) dino fans, truck enthusiasts, and cat whisperers will find a kindred spirit with our aspiring ornithologist." —The Bulletin

"Both compelling and informational, the story of Janie’s quest, like the experience of finally sighting a pair of owls, is 'magic.'" —The Horn Book

"A perfectly lovely picture book for the owl obsessed." —School Library Journal

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2024-09-14
Patience and persistence pay off in Caldecott Medalist Cordell’s ode to owling.

Janie’s long dreamed of seeing an owl. “Perfectly stout. Large, round eyes. Silent, knowing faces. Birds of the night.” Janie’s new teacher, Mr. Koji, is a birder, and Janie’s inspired by his words: “To see an owl is magic.” Accompanied by Mama, Janie searches the woods, an open prairie, the beach, a harbor, and even a cemetery. Yet even after months, not a single owl has presented itself. Undeterred, Janie gets a tip from Mr. Koji. When Janie finally goes to the location he suggested, Cordell presents readers with a truly resplendent moment. Incredible pen-and-ink illustrations treated with watercolors convey not simply Janie’s passion (readers get glimpses of the young birder’s drawings, notes, and map) but also subtler details, like Mama’s uncertainty or one moment in which the two miss a hidden owl entirely. The understanding that there are no guarantees with nature lends a special poignancy to the pages. While the book has distinct ties to titles such as Jane Yolen’sOwl Moon(1987), illustrated by John Schoenherr, and Susan Edwards Richmond’sNight Owl Night(2023), illustrated by Maribel LeChuga, it also contains additional lessons on staying the course, which resonate loud and clear. Janie and Mama are brown-skinned; Mr. Koji presents East Asian.

A title easily summed up in a single word: magic.(Picture book. 4-8)

Product Details

BN ID: 2940194609475
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Publication date: 06/24/2025
Edition description: Unabridged
Age Range: Up to 4 Years
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