Berkeley's Barn Owl Dance [Hardcover]

Tera Johnson (Author), Tania Howells (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2008 | Age Level: 3 and up

This is a lyrical and reassuring story about growing up and leaving the barn to dance on one's own.At the biggest barn owl dance of the year, the Leave the Nest Fall Fest, keen dancer Berkeley shines as usual. Next moonrise, however, she and her fellow fledglings Bo and Bree must leave home. Though Berkeley is frightened, the winking, smiling, laughing moon lights her way. After thousands of silent wingbeats, she finds a new audience, and Flippity, Tappity, Clap Clap Clap, Berkeley's new barn dance begins. Berkeley's Barn Owl Dance ushers children into an unseen animal world, while the young owl's journey will help them prepare to spread their wings and fly on their own.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreS—Berkeley Barn Owl loves to dance. On the night of the Leave the Nest Fall Fest, the eve before the fledglings go off to find their own homes, she wows the crowd with her wing flapping and talon tapping. When morning comes, the little owl is hesitant to leave her parents' nest, but off she flies with her brother and sister, each of them looking for, and finding, a perfect place to live. In Howells's digitally designed illustrations, set against stark white pages, the owlets are black line cartoon drawings filled in with several shades of brown, their pale faces the distinctive heart shape of their species. The pale yellow of the smiling round moon, soft greens in trees and grass, and one pink pig represent the only other colors. Natural details in the story accurately portray the habits of barn owls, which usually lay three to six eggs, roost in tree hollows (as do Berkeley's parents) or in barn lofts (Berkeley's new home) by day, and fledge their young for 50 to 55 days, teaching them hunting skills before they fly off to independence. Johnson has created a sweet, somewhat instructional story with lilting text that lends itself to being read aloud.—Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
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Review

Howell's digital illustrations use simple shapes and pale hues; similarly, the book's design has a muted typeface and an abundance of white space. A warm story for the very young, with a subtle message. --Kirkus Reviews, 1 September 08

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Kids Can Press, Ltd.; Ill edition (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554532639
• ISBN-13: 978-1554532636
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,945 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 year old loves it, September 12, 2010

By 

Lissa Kehaya Billanti (Carmel, Indiana, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Berkeley's Barn Owl Dance (Hardcover)

Borrowed this from the library and extended our return because my daughter, who is 5, loves it so much. Considering buying it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A charming children's picturebook about an owlet who loves to dance, April 15, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Berkeley's Barn Owl Dance (Hardcover)

The debut children's book of author Tera Johnson, Berkeley's Barn Owl Dance is a charming children's picturebook about an owlet who loves to dance more than anything. As Leave the Nest Fall Fest fast approaches, young Berkeley must learn to overcome her stage fright and fly and dance her way out into the great wide world. A happy story about learning new things and making new friends, Berkeley's Barn Owl Dance is filled with simplistic yet delightfully minimalist pictures throughout.