Customer Reviews

There's an Owl in the Shower

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I came across this book while hunting for books suited to the educational needs of my nine-year-old cousin. This book explores the age-old conflict between economic progress and environmental concerns. The argument for both sides is presented in a manner easily understood by children of grade-school age, and although the book heavily and undisguisedly favors conservation, the humans in this story are warm, believable and not portrayed as selfish destroyers of old growth forests.
The protagonist of this story is young Borden, whose father, a lumberjack, loses his job following a government directive to preserve old growth forests in order that the habitat of the Spotted Owl may be saved. Borden's family is understandably angry, as it appears to them that the government cares more about owls than about people. Here we get the usual argument from the loggers' point of view that logging puts food on the table, that logging has always formed a substantial part of the economy, that the legislators have forgotten the role of the loggers in nation building (i.e. by providing timber for construction), that the extinction of the Spotted Owl would be no great loss to the human population and that the government should strive to protect the interests of people rather than of birds.
Borden enters the woods with the intention of killing the spotted owls that took his father's job. He finds, instead, an owlet that has fallen out of its nest. Assuming that it is a Barred Owl, Borden takes the owl home and names it Bardy. His out-of-work father develops affection for the owl and observes every stage of its growth. When Borden's father receives a summons for assault and public disorder after hitting an ecologist, he decides to bring the owlet to court with him to win over the sympathy of the judge and to convince the public that loggers are not enemies of owls. Soon, true love for the young owl wins him over and he decides to free the owl and pay the fine rather than capitalize on the owl for his own selfish motives. The family learns the consequences of forest loss when a family friend loses his job as a fisherman because the river is too polluted. Borden's father decides to retrain himself for other, more sustainable professions after he understands that change is inevitable and the welfare of the Planet is in his hands as well as the ecologists'.
The environmentalists' side of the story is that the destruction of wildlife habitats and the decrease in the number of Spotted Owls are indications that people are not managing the forests right. Indeed, the exploitation of natural resources does not mean that humans will be able to live better - it might mean that it will help people (poachers, loggers, wildlife traders etc) put food on the table for the time being, but natural resources would be dissipated quickly and human health would suffer more than if measures had been taken to sustainably manage rather than exploit resources. Every action has a consequence, this book teaches us, and if there are no more spotted owls, the rodent population would increase. If there are fewer trees then it won't be long before the loggers are truly out of work as there will be no trees left for them to cut. The loss of trees would cause the loss of vital watershed areas. There will be less fresh water for people, less freshwater fish and less clean air. People have to learn that their quality of life is intertwined with the fate of the Planet. More toys and gadgets and bigger homes do not make for a better life if the air, water and soil are polluted.
There is much to learn in this book about animal behavior. The title of this book comes from a stage in the transformation of the owlet into an adult owl. Owlets bathe shortly before they are prepared to learn to fly.
Far from being moralizing, this book is absorbing and teaches reverence for all beings, from people to owls and trees. A recommended read for children, parents and teachers.

This book is about a boy, his father, and a spotted owl. The boy, Borden, hates spotted owls. They made his dad lose a job at a logging company. But one day, he finds a lost, hungry little owlet, and, thinking it's a barred owl, takes him home and gets him healthy again. It isn't until the owl gets totally hooked on them that they find out what kind of owl he is. Can Borden pick up enough courage to tell his dad that the barred owl he has learned to love is really a spotted owl, the kind he hates? If you want to learn more about owls in a fun story, read this book, "There's an Owl in the Shower." I tell you, you're gonna love it!

I am a mature adult who read this book on a chance and discovered it to be quite entertaining and enlightening at the same time. I can see why many children would enjoyed reading this book. The approach proves to be fair, balance and while it take a pro-environmental perception toward the end, it teaches that there are two sides to a debate.

The book also take pains to developed the characters and the gradual evolution of the main character's father, a lumberjack laid off from work dues to endangered owls proves to be most reflective. The father's gradual understanding of issues of both sides guide the readers as well.

The book also educated about owls. Why they cast out pellets or what hunger streak in feathers can do. These information come gradually and unrushed for easy absorption of information for children.

The writing proves to be light and easy to read, story was interesting and while it was geared toward elementary school children and they should love this book, I enjoyed it myself as well. Thus, the book come highly recommended and while it end in rather a somber note (no happy ending here), its an intelligently written book, suitable for all.

Leon lost his job because of the spotted owls. They lived in the old growth forest that the loggers, one of which was Leon, cut down.
Because of the spotted owls, which were an endangered species, they weren't allowed to cut there anymore, meaning that Leon and the other loggers were out of a job.
When Bordon, Leon's son, brought home an owl, Leon immediately wanted to kill it. It was, Borden protested, a barred owl. He didn't hate barred owls, just spotted owls that had cost Leon his job.
Leon allowed him to keep it, and fell in love with it, feeding it and even allowing it to take a shower with him. But what will happen when Bordon and Sally, his sister, find out that this owl isn't a barred owl at all but a spotted owl?...

---Natalie The One and Only, and Chrissy The Great.

This is a great book about nature interfering with the government. It is a story about a boy named Borden and his dad isn't working all because of spotted owls! Borden finds an owlet and takes care of it so it doesn't die. What they don't know is the owl is the one that is keeping his dad out of work! If you want to see what is going to happen to the owlet, you have to read the book.

My name is Jamie Harrison. I like the book There's an owl in the shower. I would have given it a 5 star but the ending killed the book. The book is about a boy named Borden who finds an owl and he thinks it's a barred owl but's it's really a spotted owl.I wont tell you anymore so you better read it to find out!

Hi, I am 11 years old and I read the book There's an Owl in the Shower. This book is about a boy named Borden who hates spotted owls because his dad, Leon, lost his job as a logger. Borden found a baby owl, and thinking that the owlet was a barred owl Borden took him home. His dad at first wanted Borden to shot the owlet. But then Leon started to love the owlet. What Borden didn't know was that the owl was a spotted owl. If you read this book you are sure to enjoy it.

There?s an Owl in the Shower
Borden, Sally, Bardy, and Leon were the main characters. There?s an owl in the shower is a loving and exciting book. Borden?s father Leon loses his job because of spotted owls, and gets very mad. Borden sets out to kill the owls. He finds a little owl and calls him Bardy. Throughout the story Leon gets in a fight with a teacher. Leon has to go to court, and he tries to use Bardy to show that he is kind.
There?s an Owl in the Shower is an exciting book and I think you will like it.We did!!!!!!!

I think There's an owl in the shower was a good book because I really like owls. The book is about a boy that hates owls because his dad lost his job because of them. So he goes out to kill them but instead ends up saving one. his dad says he's going to kill the owl but gets to attached to it. Thus begans vthe stor of Bardy the owl.

This book is awesome!I read the first chapter in the book store and I just had to take it home with me!If I could I would rate it 10 stars.