The Urban Owls: How Flaco and Friends Made the City Their Home, written by Christian Cooper and illustrated by Kristen Adam. Little, Brown and Company. Hachette, 2025. $24.99 ages 6 and up

 

"Some people worried that he might not survive.
But Flaco surprised everyone - he could do just fine
on his own. He used his great big owl eyes to see in 
light much too dim for you and me. 
So Flaco worked the night shift, like most owls do 
(and like some people do too). In the dark he caught 
prey, and he slept during the day."

Christian Cooper knows about birds; he proves that here in his first picture book, aimed at encouraging young children to appreciate and understand more and more about nature. To that end, he introduces his audience to a group of birds that would not necessarily capture the attention of New York City residents.

First up is Flaco, a huge owl who chose to leave the home he had known in the Central Park Zoo and see what he had been missing. After all, his life at the zoo had been spent without room to really fly and with little to do with his time. When he finally found freedom, he made the best of it. Suddenly, his world was filled with lights, noise, traffic, and unbelievably tall buildings. There was worry for his safety; Flaco proved there was no need. He did what owls do ... in a very unusual setting. 

"And even though his family was from very far away - a place 
called Eurasia, near Africa - Flaco became a New Yorker. 
And that's the way it is with a lot of people too."

Barry the Barred Owl is next to be described. She, like many others birds, found a home in Central Park.
Because of the availability of food, Barry outlived any expectations for how long she might stay. People loved to watch her. Geraldine the Great Horned Owl was another denizen of Central Park, despite foot trouble that made it hard for her to find the food she needed. It did not stop her! When a snowy owl made her presence known, she was the first to be seen in more than a hundred years. She didn't stay long, but people loved to take her photo. Rocky the Saw-whet Owl found comfort in the branches of a tall tree where no one really noticed her. Life was good until her tree was cut down and moved to Rockefeller Center at Christmas time. Poor wee owl! 

It turns out that owls can live most anywhere. In back matter, Mr. Cooper provides further facts about each of the featured owls, a Did You Know? list, suggestions for finding owls by using books and the senses, how to protect them, a list for further reading, and selected sources that were used for research to write this book. Kristen Adam's digital artwork was created using Procreate. Her realistic images of the owls presented and the NYC setting do much to bring this story to life. The close-ups are quite arresting.