Knight Owl

Genre or Category

Caldecott Medal

Target Age Group

PreK – 2nd Grade

Summary

Owl’s only wish is to become a knight, but he quickly discovers his small size is a problem.  When Owl is placed on knight night watch and comes face to face with a dragon, he must use his cleverness and bravery to protect his kingdom.

Justification

I initially chose this book for the cheeky humor, the medieval setting, and the cuteness of Owl. The title itself is a pun for the phrase night owl so I knew there would be some comedy to the story. I’m partial to medieval themes and dragons myself which had a hand in me selecting this book, but this is a story for everyone. Plus, our main character is a loveable animal friend. How could anyone look at Owl’s big eyes in his knight armor and not fall instantly in love?

Evaluation

For this review, I will be evaluating illustrations, character, and theme.

The illustrations in this book are magical. I got lost in a fantasy world with knights and dragons on every page. The book is filled with darker, deeper, sepia toned images that help create the mood of the story. They bring on concern and worry for Owl and his safety. The illustrations establish the night setting with a dark glowing world and the knight setting with pictures of fairytale-like medieval castles and characters. The illustrations also make Owl come to life with the emotions shown in his huge eyes. After he hears a strange sound and you see his terrified eyes you are afraid with him.

I fell in love with Owl. This tiny, brave character is portrayed through text and illustrations. I became so invested in his story and needed him to shine like the knight he was—a true knight in shining armor. He is so small and adorable but dreams of becoming something so fierce and heroic. He cannot hold the sword or shield but he preservers. When he was struggling in knight school and literally laying under his shield I was brought to tears. He did not have the size or the warrior abilities to fight the dragon, but he was clever and used that to his advantage to beat the dragon by winning him over.

The theme of this story is to believe in yourself, be yourself, and never give up. Even though Owl was too small to be a knight, his will was strong and he had other skills like courage and intelligence in spades. He did not let his differences stop him from achieving his dream of becoming a knight. This can show young children that strengths can be more than physical. Owl’s wit and cleverness were where he shined and what ultimately made the kingdom safe from dragons. This story has become one of my all-time favorites and top recommendations for children.

References

Denise, C. (2022). Knight Owl. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.