Owlet's First Flight [Hardcover]

Mitra Modarressi (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: April 12, 2012 | Age Range: 3 - 5 years

Little Owlet wakes on a moonlit night.
His mama says, "It's time you took flight."

This little Owlet does not want to be out by himself in the dark. But Mama believes he can be brave, so he decides to leave the nest for the first time. As Owlet makes his way through the sky to explore the sights and sounds of nighttime, he runs into a few frightening obstacles along the way, but he eventually learns that being brave can be a fun adventure!

Perfect for reading at bedtime to relieve nighttime anxiety, watching Owlet fly through the sky will show young readers that things may not always be as scary as they first seem.

Editorial Reviews

Review

FROM KIRKUS REVIEWS: 

"Simple rhyming text describes owlet’s initial reluctance to fly, his mama’s firm encouragement and the resulting nocturnal adventure. . . Modarressi’s talent with watercolors elevates this sweet bedtime tale above the many titles of this ilk. Owlet’s eyes convey his every emotion—worry, fear, surprise, relief and joy. Skillful layering of color conveys the bird’s swooping movements, while sharply drawn details of the creatures contrast nicely with the softer natural backgrounds, including the sky that ranges from inky blue to purplish pink. Preschoolers are sure to enjoy this cozy story and cheer for Owlet" 


FROM BOOKLIST:

"The rhyming text tells Little Owlet’s story simply, while the watercolor paintings depict his world in simplified forms and muted colors. . . the double-page paintings portray Owlet’s neighborhood at night as an intriguing and, somehow, comforting landscape. An encouraging bedtime book for the many young children who fear the dark and dream of independence."


FROM SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:

"Modarressi’s soft-focus watercolors capture the excitement of Owlet’s success and the beauty of a late summer’s night."

About the Author

Mitra Modarressi (www.mitramodarressi.com) has written and illustrated several picture books for children. She lives in San Francisco, California.

Product Details

• Age Range: 3 - 5 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (April 12, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399255265
• ISBN-13: 978-0399255267
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #363,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mitra Modarressi was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. She graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in illustration in 1989.

Mitra works primarily in watercolors. Describing her illustrations, Publishers Weekly says they "hint at the dreaminess of Modigliani and the cozy amiability of Ernest Shepard." She has written and illustrated several books, including "Yard Sale!" which Publishers Weekly called "fun from start to finish," "Stay Awake, Sally," "Taking Care of Mama," and the April 2012 release, "Owlet's First Flight". She has illustrated "Tumble Tower" and "Timothy Tugbottom Says No!", both written by her mother, the novelist Anne Tyler, and "Knead It! Punch It! Bake It!" by Judith and Evan Jones. Mitra also does editorial illustrations, which have appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Washington Post and other publications.

Mitra lives in San Francisco with her husband and their two children. Visit her website at mitramod.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Nothing to fear. June 1, 2012

By J. Prather TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Owlet's First Flight is a charming story with a smooth read aloud flow. Little Owl is nervous about his first flight! His mom tells him "Your brothers and sisters have all flown the nest. I'm sure you can be as brave as the rest." Little Owl takes the plunge, even though he worries that it's too dark to see, and discovers that he can do it after all! He finds out that there's nothing to fear in the night, and ends his first journey with a happy face and a proud mama waiting for him at home. This is a feel good story that will be perfect for any librarian wishing for a toddler read aloud to go with the summer reading club theme "Dream Big".

I loved the illustrations! Little Owl is very expressive. His worried expression is priceless, and his joy and confidence at the end of his first flight are easy to see. The tones are muted, as befits a night time story, but the characters are so charming,they are sure to keep any young story listener engaged and attentive. My one reservation about this book is one two page spread that is completely wordless. There isn't really anything interesting about this scene, as we see Little Owl flying over a field, and it just makes me wonder why it was included. To me, this one spread added nothing to the book, and only hampered the flow of the story. I am still excited to use it in story time, and I'm sure all of my young story listeners will be as charmed by Little Owl as I was.