Customer Reviews

So What, Saw-Whet?

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The superb photography and clever diaolog of this book make it not only a childrens book, but also enjoyable reading for an adult.. This book educates the reader and the listener about the everyday life of the adorable Saw- Whet Owl.
A wonderful book to teach our children and ourselves about the wonderment of nature..
After reading this book to a child you will find yourself repeating the whimsical dialog with reference to all of natures creatures. You will also hope that this photographer and writer will expand their expertise to other animals and birds in our wilds. A wonderful way to teach.

My grand daughter loves owls for some reason, so I thought she would enjoy this book. She not only enjoys it, she loves it! She is two years old and carries this book around with her where ever she goes. She sleeps with it next to her bed. She even tried to take a bath with it. She cried when I told her she couldn't bathe with it. But once I explained that she would lose it if she got it wet she accepted it.
The photos are gorgeous and the story is a cute way of teaching children about owls. We love this book.

This is a delightful little non-fiction picture book about the Saw Whet Owl. It is written in couplets, which is appealing to the preschooler, but also fun for adults to read out loud. The photographs are enough to stir envy in the heart of any bird photographer as the owl is normally nocturnal and elusive - so I learned when I read the book.

I recommend So What Saw Whet as a good addition to the preschool and primary grade age group's library. It is fun to read, has appealing pictures and will teach the young reader or listener to appreciate this small owl.
Donna Campbell Smith

This is a non-fiction children's picture book about the Saw-Whet Owl. High quality photographs illustrate the pages. Most of the book has rhyming text which repeats the phrase "So what, Saw-Whet?", which is common in picture books written for toddlers and preschool aged children or for new readers to practice beginning reading skills.

The word count is quite low, so it is a short and quick read. Despite the low word count the following topics are touched upon: the owl's color, pattern, soft feathers, how its head rotates, the look of the eyes, the sound of its call, its size, what it eats and how and when it hunts.

There is a short fact sheet at the back of the book to round out information that is not covered in the text of the book which can help parents or teachers learn a little more about the Saw-Whet Owl.

There are not many books on the market for very young children which are non-fiction content about owls, so this book fills a need. The repeating phrases and the rhythmic and rhyming text will appear to very young children so I would say that this can and should be read to children starting when they are one year old. Children aged five and older may finish the reading of the book wanting more information about owls or wishing the book had a longer word count so that the reading didn't zip by so quickly. Some of the photos look digitally altered and I found myself questioning if they were real photos of if they were composed entirely on the computer (the owl near the boot and the owl on the branch near the window). The photos are crisp and we do get a lot of very close views of the Saw-Whet Owl which is great.

This book would be enjoyed by any child who is interested in birds and owls (or one who is a budding naturalist and need only be exposed to information about owls to get interested). This book would be useful when learning about birds, birds of prey, and owls in a homeschoolling setting or with teachers and students in a school classroom (as young as preschool). It could also be used as a practice reader for beginning readers, as the repeating text is commonly used in sight reading practice or to encourage reading fluency.

I am happy to own this book because it is not easy to find non-fiction books about owls in a picture book format.

'So What, Saw-Whet?' is an adorable book about a lovely owl who rants and raves about his abilities and talents to a somewhat uninterested passerby. In the end the passerby learns more than he bargains for and begins to slowly warm up to the owl, admiring his looks and bidding him farewell.

Through the author's actual encounter with a Saw-Whet owl, the reader is taken on a little journey. An educational journey filled with attractive photos of the Saw-Whet owl in the wild. The story is mellow yet very revealing and interesting. It is written in a unique style; a rhyme of questions and answers. Each question and answer gives the reader a little more insight into the life of this beautiful animal. The story concludes with an informative page, which gives a brief profile of the Saw-Whet owl, its characteristics, and feeding habits.

This book is unlike any I have read. Its beautiful photos are irresistible and the story is simply charming. I am sure it will make a great keepsake for young children for it brings a piece of wildlife to the reader and reminds him of the beauty of nature.

SO WHAT, SAW-WHET subtly conveys natural history information about owls with enjoyable text. Most adults don't know how the Saw-whet Owl got its name, but readers of this text discover the answer to this and many more owlish secrets through an exciting exchange with a Saw-whet Owl. This book is appropriate for all ages as it can be appreciated on many levels: for its teaching of owl facts, its melodic tone, and its vivid photographs that bring this stunning creature to life. I am a professional raptor educator and have added this book to my curriculum.

Written with originality by Rochell Frank and superbly illustrated with photography by Linda Gast, So What, Saw-Whet? offers young readers a conversation with a bold hearted Saw Whet Owl who tells them "things they should know" about owls in their native habitat. The repetitive, rhyming dialogue is ideal for read-aloud parent/child bonding and a way to enhance a child's appreciation for nature and develop an interest in birds. So What, Saw-Whet? is a unique and thoroughly "kid friendly" picturebook for family, school, and community library "Pets & Wildlife" collections and reading lists.

This is a nice children's book with wonderful photos of the Saw-Whet owl. It is easy reading and provides a basic understanding of the Saw-Whet owl's habits, habitat, and appearance. Educational and entertaining, "So What? Saw-Whet?" is a recommended read

I have only seen an owl in the wild once, and this beautiful little book brings back the magic of that memorable moment for me, with its marvelous photography of this very small member of the species, which is not much bigger than the average man's hand.
Rochelle Frank's simple poems about this lovely owl are informative and charming, and will delight both child and adult; this volume would make an excellent gift for a child that is interested in wildlife and nature, and animals that one rarely sees in one's environment.

The photography by Linda Gast is excellent, and is layered to include more than just the Saw-Whet. My favorite accompanies the initial verse:
"I looked out my window a week ago,
When a small Saw-Whet Owl...
told me things I should know".
It has an old window in the foreground, the owl in a pine branch beyond it, and trees in the background, looking to be at least three layers deep and perhaps more, and gives a terrific effect.
The final page gives data of this adorable creature, from the sound of his screech to his diet, habitat, and more.

This is the perfect book for toddlers. If your children have shown an interest in birds, but you've found many of the books too "adult" for your child, you'll love the simplicity, yet truth revealed in this storybook.