"I'm Not Scared!" [Hardcover]

Jonathan Allen (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Baby Owl is a fierce, fearless, night-prowling predator...but everyone seems to think he shouldn't be out late at night.

 

But it is NOT past his bed time! And he is most certainly NOT scared!

 

Luckily, wise Papa is there to understand, and provide a much-needed reassuring hug.

 

 

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In "I'm Not Cute!" (2006), Baby Owl told all the big, nurturing animals that he was huge and scary, until his loving mama took him home to bed. Now he steals out for a stroll in the moonlit woods, and he insists to Badger, Bear, and Bat that he is not scared of them or of the dark. It is not past his bedtime. Owls stay up all night. He can see perfectly well in the dark. Big, bright, clear cartoons show the real story: despite his protests, the small, huge-eyed owl is scared stiff as the animals loom large from the shadowy trees, even though he is rebellious when they nurture him. It all climaxes in his screaming temper tantrum, until Papa takes Baby Owl home and tucks him, along with his toy, Owly, into his warm, cozy bed. Toddlers will see themselves in the Owl's fear and denial, and they'll embrace the story's reassurance: "It's OK to be a little scared of the dark." Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Jonathan Allen is well known throughout the world for his unique picture book talents. He has two young children, plays bass guitar and lives in a quiet village in South Cambridgeshire. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 28 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (June 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786837225
• ISBN-13: 978-0786837229
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 2.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was sitting at my desk at art school, way back in the late seventies, trying to feel inspired about the latest college design project while idly drawing funny animals in the margins of my note book, when one of the illustration tutors, a fine illustrator of children's books in his own right called Fritz Wegner, looked over my shoulder and said something along the lines of.
"Why don't you do that sort of thing as your course work? You could you know."
I was nonplussed. I think I stuttered something like, "Are you sure that would be all right?".
I was in shock. I mean, it was bit like someone telling you that you could watch telly and eat ice cream as a degree project, and that nobody would mind! Or something. . . Not only were the drawings very simple, they were funny. Two things which don't get you taken seriously in the usual course of events. But in the world of children's books, these are pretty much a requirement. I had found my home.
So I started an illustration project based on the idea of nonsense poems, which I decided to write myself. This became my first ever book, "A Bad Case of Animal Nonsense", published by the late Vanessa Hamilton at J.M.Dent. God bless you, Vanessa!
I wrote and illustrated several books over the next few years, while at the same time trying to get somewhere as a musician (bass), and co-running a small recording studio from a house in South London. I eventually decided to pursue my writing and illustrating career full time as it actually paid, and deep down I knew I was better at it than I was at audio engineering and bass playing. And anyway the music industry was pretty horrible.
It wasn't a hard decision. I really enjoyed my children's book work and had just had a book co-published in the USA and Japan. So that's what I have done ever since. I get paid to draw funny animals. I even earn a living at it. I still can't quite believe it.

Embarrassingly enough, I have only just read the reviews of my books that Amazon readers have left over the years. I feel very ashamed at not doing this before, as there are some really heart warming things in there. I have come over all humble and am emitting a warm glow from inside that could help heat a small town. Thank you very much. It is very nice to realise that the work I have done, on my own, behind my studio desk, has the power to touch other people and even help people discover the wonders of reading.

If you want actual biography stuff, here it is.
I was born in 1957 (Yes I know it's a long time ago. I can count. Unfortunately.) In the quaint market town of Luton.
OK, scrub the 'quaint' bit.
My dad worked in the bank. He was transferred to a branch in Cambridge when I was about 13 so we moved.
I went to Impington Village College, where I did my O and A levels, and thanks to an inspiringly eccentric Art teacher called Ray Malmstrom, I became interested in drawing and painting. With a bit of encouragement, I applied for a place on the Art foundation course at Cambridge Tech, as it then was. I didn't think that 'people like me' whatever that means, went to Art School, so I was surprised when I got in. I was even more surprised when, after my foundation year ended, I was accepted on the Graphics course at St Martins College of Art in London.

That takes you neatly full circle, to the top of this bio.

Best wishes to you all, assuming any one reads this.
Jonathan X

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "I'm not Scared!", September 12, 2007

By 

Kirsten G. Cutler (Santa Rosa, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: "I'm Not Scared!" (Hardcover)

Allen, Jonathan, I'm not scared!" Hyperion Books for Children, 2007

A slightly apprehensive looking baby owl takes a walk with his toy owl dangling from one wing, "No one will bother us in the nighttime, he thought." Encircled by a dark blue fringed with purple, Baby Owl enters the scary-looking "moonlit woods" that are filled with towering trees; the "blue" trees are outlined in black. First Badger pops up looking suitably friendly, his mouth shows no teeth and curves in a smile as he says, "Don't be scared, Baby Owl" and tells him that, "It's past your bedtime." Owl replies, "I'm not scared!" and reminds Badger that, "owls stay up all night!" Next, a bear tumbles over the startled owl, and then a bat surprises him. Each time Baby Owl gets more and more frustrated that he needs to repeat himself about not being scared so his response gets louder; in fact, he lays down on his back, his little feet kicking up in the air, and screams his response to Bat. Along comes his papa who also tells him not to be scared; Baby Owl tells him that it is his toy owl that is scared, "Everyone keeps making him jump!" Dawn has arrived, so they walk home, and papa reads Baby Owl a story before tucking him into bed. Papa tells him that "It's okay to be a little bit scared of the dark," and Baby Owl tells Owly that, "Papa means you". Baby Owl first introduced in "I'm not cute" (Hyperion, 2006) has big white eyes, a curved yellow beak and bright yellow feet that expressively punctuate a more amorphous fuzzy brown body. Large bold font and robustly outlined figures stand out clearly against bright white paper. One very cute image shows Papa Owl holding Baby Owl against his chest as Baby Owl is holding Owly close to him. This delightful reassuring story will help all children feel braver as they head off to bed

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute book, December 21, 2008

By 

E. Sovern (Plano, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: "I'm Not Scared!" (Hardcover)

My son love's this book. The owl is from the I'm Not Cute book. Good, quick stories that your child will love.