"As Little Owl hid in the shadows, the
branches pulled tight around her. She
was trapped!
Then she heard a roar.
The tree shook. Spinning
and swaying, it was lowered
down onto a truck.
Little Owl was dizzy.
Is this Christmas?"
Not only am I late for this Christmas past, but for a few other ones as well. In November 2020, Rocky became the focus of attention for the many people hearing her story. It started in Little Owl's tree in Oneonta, NY. The tree was huge, and she was happy there. Her animal friends had tried to explain Christmas to her when the whole town began to glitter with soft lights. The animals knew it was called Christmas, but had no real understanding of what that meant.
When Little Owl flew home to her tree the next day, she was surprised to find people surrounding it. They were talking about it being the perfect Christmas tree. Poor Little Owl was further confused. Imagine how much more surprised she was when the tree that was her home was hoisted onto a truck for a long ride into a very busy city. Little Owl did not feel welcome, and she was missing home.
A kind man with gentle eyes found her there, and transported her to Ellen Kalish at the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center where she was given care, food, and time to recover. Soon, she was ready to fly home. First, she wanted to see her tree and how happy it made the people who gathered to enjoy its beauty. Satisfied, Little Owl made her way home to her friends just in time to celebrate Christmas, quite sure she had a clearer understanding of its meaning.
Children are sure to empathize with Little Owl's story of fear, friendship, and community. I read about it early in December and asked to see a copy. Thanks to Dominique at Hachette, it arrived in the mail today. It's the true story of a tiny owl, and her realization of what the Christmas spirit means to all.
Back matter features an author’s note from Ellen Kalish that speaks to her love for animals and the rescue and rehabilitation center that cares for all birds brought to her. There is a photo of Rockefeller (Rocky), as the bird was named, and a short retelling of Rocky's rescue and release. It's worth sharing at any time of the year.
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