Owly, Vol. 2: Just A Little Blue (v. 2) [Paperback]

Andy Runton (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

The second graphic novel in the breakout, all-ages series, Owly. Owly is a kind, yet lonely, little owl who's always on the search for new friends and adventure. Relying on a mixture of symbols, icons, and expressions to tell his silent stories, Runton's clean, animated, and heartwarming style makes it a perfect read. Owly learns that sometimes you have to make sacrifices and work at things that are important, especially friendship.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 3--5. In this nearly wordless graphic-novel companion to Owly: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer (2004), best friends Owly and Wormy meet a stubborn bluebird that lives with its family in an old tree stump. After learning that the birds' habitat is in danger, the friends decide to build their surly neighbor a new home. However, Blue turns his nose up at offers of a new house, even threatening Wormy, so the compassionate owl and worm give up and pack the little home they made into the closet. Later, when the seasonal rains endanger Blue and his family, Owly and a worried Wormy come to the rescue. The humanity and sweetness of the first book are replicated here, as is the deceptively simple line work, which conveys the story with a flair and subtlety that makes words unnecessary. A genuinely charming book, which, like its predecessor, shows innocence, friendship, and kindness as part of a universal language. A book to share across the age levels Tina Coleman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 125 pages
• Publisher: Top Shelf Productions (March 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891830643
• ISBN-13: 978-1891830648
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE VALUE OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP, April 28, 2005

By 

Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Owly, Vol. 2: Just A Little Blue (v. 2) (Paperback)

The second volume of Andy Runton's Owly has all the charm, wit, and soft moral messages of the first book. Told without benefit of any text, Andy Runton instead uses word balloons with pictures as his method of dialogue to convey his character's words and emotions. Owly is joined by his new friend from the first book "wormy" in their quest to make new friends. This time he's attracting a young bird with birdseed. But when the mother bird sees Owly, she immediately goes on the offensive, knowing that owls are predators.

Owly and Wormy decide to build the birds a birdhouse and even sacrifice their wooden wagon to make one large enough. They are proud of their work but still the mother bird is having none of it. Owly then thinks he's figured it out and paints a small little welcome sign on the front of the birdhouse. But Owly and Wormy are disappointed when they find the sign lying on the ground, broken in half and mother bird again going on the attack and driving Owly away. The friends are distraught and take the birdhouse back to Owly's tree and put it away in the closet, seemingly for good. But now the poor bird family finds themselves shivering and wet from the cold. A nice house sure would be great! When a storm blows three new baby birds out of the nest, Owly comes to the rescue but the third is still missing. Can Owly and Wormy locate the missing baby bird? How will mother bird treat them now?

Owly is not so much a graphic novel in the traditional sense but truly a wonderful children's book told solely through cartooning. We see the value of friendship and never giving up when it comes to helping others. And we also see the pitfalls of judging people too hastily. Andy Runton's unique cartooning style drives the book. At once very simplistic and yet able to express such a wide range of emotions from all his characters. This book is pure charm and shows the incredible talent that is out there among the smaller press community. Another winner!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful gentle almost wordless fun, April 18, 2006

By 

Charlie B (New Hampshire usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Owly, Vol. 2: Just A Little Blue (v. 2) (Paperback)

We have the 1st 3 Owly books, and my 4 year old daughter loves to "read" it to her 2 year old sister, who asks for it every day and night. They even play Owly games at the playground. Very sweet.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I might be a big softee, but..., October 5, 2005

By 

DK - See all my reviews

This review is from: Owly, Vol. 2: Just A Little Blue (v. 2) (Paperback)

...these books are incredible. I literally started crying.