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Owly, Vol. 1: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer [Paperback]

Andy Runton
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)

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Book Description

September 29, 2004 5 and up
Owly is a kind, yet lonely, little owl who's always on the lookout for new friends and adventure. The first graphic novel in the series contains two enchanting novellas, "The Way Home" & "The Bittersweet Summer," wherein Owly discovers the meaning of friendship, and that saying goodbye doesn't always mean forever.

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Owly, Vol. 1: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer + Owly, Vol. 3: Flying Lessons (v. 3)
Price for both: $17.02

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this charming series by mini-comics specialist Runton, Owly and Wormy carry out their dialogue-less but absorbing activities in classic best-friend fashion. They live together in a friendly forest reminiscent of the ones often found in children's literature, and much in the style of Frog and Toad, or Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, Owly and Wormy's smallest excursions and challenges are the stuff of great mystery and adventure. With nothing but significant looks and great lashings of expressive ink, Runton brings these gentle characters and their concerns vividly to life. In the story "The Way Home," we learn how Wormy, initially terrified of the bird of prey, moves from fear to trust when Owly saves his life and later convinces his skeptical worm parents that Owly is a valuable friend. In "The Bittersweet Summer," the pair befriends some hummingbirds who must leave them behind when it's time to fly south for the winter. In both tales, the plots are simple enough for children to grasp, yet the characterizations will draw in all but the most reluctant adults. Owly is mostly made up of a large, expressive pair of eyes, while Wormy is little more than a squiggle and a smile. They wear sun hats while gardening and scarves during winter. Though it doesn't sound like much, under Runton's pen, the whole is winningly lively.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. In this nearly wordless bit of graphic fun, Runton tells two stories about wly the little owl. In "The Way Home," lonely Owly rescues Wormy from a thunderstorm, and, after nursing him back to health, helps him find his way home. "The Bittersweet Summer" tells a slightly more complicated story about friendship, as Owly and Wormy befriend two hummingbirds during the course of the spring and summer, and say goodbye to them when they migrate south for the winter. Owly is a delightfully sweet book. The whimsical black-and-white art is done with great facility for expressing emotion, and Runton's reliance on icons and pictures in lieu of the usual dialogue makes the story perfect for give-and-take between children and their parents; even readers older than the target audience will appreciate the book's simple charm, wisdom, and warmth. Tina Coleman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

  • Age Range: 5 and up
  • Paperback: 160 pages
  • Publisher: Top Shelf Productions; First Printing edition (September 29, 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1891830627
  • ISBN-13: 978-1891830624
  • Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.4 x 7.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,640 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Andy is the creator of the breakout all-ages series of graphic novels, Owly, featuring a kind-hearted little owl who's always searching for new friends and adventure. Relying on a mixture of symbols and expressions to tell his silent stories, Andy's work showcases both his gift for characterization and his love of birds, animals, and the outdoors. His animated and heartwarming style has made him a favorite of both fans and critics alike.

The Owly series has earned him multiple awards in the comics and graphic novel community, including the Howard E. Day Memorial Prize, the Harvey Award, two Ignatz Awards, and the 2006 Eisner Award for "Best Publication for a Younger Audience". He lives in the greater Atlanta area, where he works full-time on Owly comics, books, and graphic novels.

Visit him and Owly online at: www.AndyRunton.com

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
(37)
4.7 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Deceptively simple and thoroughly enjoyable October 18, 2004
Format:Paperback
It's really hard to review "Owly". The easiest thing to do would be to say "It's awesome. Go read it. If you don't like it, you have no soul." That would be the quick way to discuss this book (and it would be accurate).

But, Andy Runton deserves a little more. Because he's accomplished something to admire: he's created a truly all ages comic book, that is, you can be past the age of 9 and really enjoy it. That's not easy. Quick, when was the last time you saw "good for all ages" on a book (or movie) and not feel your I.Q. drop a few points even before you even read page one(or watched the opening credits)? And then you noticed it dropping as you progressed?

Runton doesn't do that. His "Owly" stories engage you at a basic human level. Owly is an owl, but he's the quintessential gentle soul, the rare altruistic good guy who looks out for the little guy and overcomes any obstacle to win. You root for him because you know if there were more Owly's in the world, it would be a more bearable place to live in.

And the most amazing thing, aside from the wonderful art, is that Runton does this without a single word. Aside from some expressive thought-balloons, Owly and his friends don't say anything. But the drawings communicate a much raw emotion as a dozen well-chosen words could.

Enjoy "Owly" with your kids, by yourself, with friends and family. It's time well spent, and good feelings well shared.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Honest and Genuine November 23, 2004
Format:Paperback
Owly's is a great story, and conveyed in a timeless and ageless way. It would be very easy with this kind of material to be mawkish or contrived, but Andy does a brilliant job conveying his deep respect for nature. Owly is simple and sweet, and hearkens back to the classic storytelling of Winnie-the-Pooh or Curious George.

Especially nice is the clear and intelligent use of animal behavior. For example, what flowers will attract hummingbirds, that small birds would be scared of an owl, etc...

It really is one of the most honest and genuine things I've read in a long time.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Owly is fun for all ages! June 16, 2004
Format:Paperback
Owly is not your typical owl. He's friendly, adorable, and he sometimes hangs out with a worm. The art is well done, clean and cartoony. Not to disregard the fact that Owly is easily one of the cutest owls put on paper.

I was attracted to this book because it mixes great drawings and the paneled story pacing of a comic with a great story that seems almost nostalgic. With representational dialogue (i.e. pictures in word bubbles) instead of words, these two heart-warming tales are easily interpretable for people of all reading levels and languages. Definitely one of those rare books that cross-over from adult-reading to bedtime-story.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars bought for 2nd grade classroom
Very cute books. My students love the drawings and story line. If you are looking for AR books, be aware that this is not an AR book and is deemed not quizzable. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Elizabeth Wineland
4.0 out of 5 stars Delightful
A delightful and thoroughly enjoyable story suitable for all ages, from a 10 year old to my mum's age. The story of an owl told through cartoons, with virtually no words. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Alyda
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
A great children's book with wonderful illustrations. Good and the most important principles were not the Immaculate conception of the free time VS v and the of a v bc changes j... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ben McCormack
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
Very cute!
A lot of fun to read! Even for a college kid. Wasn't thinking that it would be that good but it was.
Published 3 months ago by Aaron
5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing Messages that don't Clunk You Over the Head
Owly is meant for the younger non-reading set (or those starting out) but is universally accessible based on the sweet but non-sappy sentiments of the characters involved. Read more
Published 3 months ago by N. Neubert
5.0 out of 5 stars Reminds me of the old "Carl" books
It is a lot of fun for me and my two year old to make up our own words to the story!
Published 4 months ago by Haon the Great
5.0 out of 5 stars Loves Owls!
We buy books for the kids every year.Grandson 8 loves this book. Darling pictures and fun to look at. Lovely story.
Published 4 months ago by Sue S. Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars So cute!
This is an adorable story! When you read it, it will put a smile on your face. Definitely read this!
Published 4 months ago by Cyndi
5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet stories, great for kindle or iPad
Since the images are in black and white you can read this with pleasure on both the Kindle device or the iPad Kindle app. Read more
Published 6 months ago by EAF
5.0 out of 5 stars Cute without being saccharine
This was probably meant as a children's book, but I'm a 30-year-old man and I loved it anyway. Sometimes you just want something that isn't grim and dark.
Published 8 months ago by Ross Andrews
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