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Sean Taylor
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Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise Hardcover – Picture Book, February 10, 2015

by Sean Taylor (Author), Jean Jullien (Illustrator)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 236 ratings
Editors' pick Best Books Ages 3-5
See all formats and editions
Watch out! Hoot Owl is hungry in an offbeat story with deadpan humor and bold, striking illustrations.

Hoot Owl is no ordinary owl. He is a master of disguise! In the blackness of night, he’s preparing to swoop on his prey before it can realize his dastardly tricks. Look there—a tasty rabbit for him to eat! Hoot Owl readies his costume, disguising himself as . . . a carrot! Then he waits. The rabbit runs off. Never mind! Surely his next juicy target will cower against such a clever and dangerous creature as he! Kids will hoot at Sean Taylor’s deliciously tongue-in-beak narration, belied by the brilliantly comical illustrations of Jean Jullien.
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  1. Reading age
    3 - 7 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    48 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 2
  5. Dimensions
    10.56 x 0.38 x 10.13 inches
  6. Publisher
    Candlewick
  7. Publication date
    February 10, 2015
  8. ISBN-10
    0763675784
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0763675783
  10. See all details
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Discover teachers' picks. Discover%20teachers%27%20picks.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—Hoot Owl explains that he is hungry and proud of his creative disguises employed to capture prey. He assembles a carrot costume in pursuit of rabbit and becomes an ornamental birdbath to nab a pigeon. He is totally unsuccessful until he dons waiter's attire and devours….a pizza! The owl's braggadocio and camouflage amuse throughout. Jullien's spreads feature primary colors and mostly black backgrounds that feature playfully rounded cartoon characters. Use this read-aloud for levity during a study of nocturnal animals or when discussing different ways to approach a problem.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

Review

Smart pacing, easy-to-read spreads, and complete confidence that no animals will be hurt in the reading of this book make it a winner.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Jullien's bold, black outlines, expressive animal eyes and positioning (Hoot Owl is frequently sideways) hilariously complement Taylor's text, which reveals the predator as both melodramatic ("The shadowy night stretches away forever, as black as burnt toast") and unflustered. Rich, matte colors and a flattish, zoomed-in perspective of the nighttime scenes keep the vibe immediate and nonthreatening. Never fear: Hoot Owl's "deadly-dangerous beak" eventually chomps on something that even squeamish readers will approve of. A rib-tickling pleaser.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

The owl’s braggadocio and camouflage amuse throughout. Jullien’s spreads feature primary colors and mostly black backgrounds that feature playfully rounded cartoon characters.
—School Library Journal

The colors are bold; the shapes are simple; and outlines are thick.... This one’s a winner, the humor dry and perfectly understated and Hoot Owl, a very funny character I hope we readers see again. It’s, quite simply, a hoot.
—Kirkus Reviews Children's Book blog

This simple story packs plenty of punch.Hoot Owl is a comic, suspenseful tale that will no doubt be a hit night after night.
—BookPage

An airbornepredator of dubious cleverness swoops through the inky pages of “Hoot Owl: Master of Disguise," a hilarious picture book for 3- to 8-year-olds written by Sean Taylor. This bedtime read is an object lesson in charming contrasts.
—The Wall Street Journal

Jullien's thick black outlines and saturated colors make the night come alive, and Taylor's wordplay is as satisfying as a pepperoni pizza. The finale opens the door for a sequel... please.
—Shelf Awareness

Hoot Owl’s grandiloquent narration (“I swoop through the bleak blackness like a wolf in the air”) will make for comic reading aloud ... Fans of DaCosta’s Nighttime Ninja will appreciate Hoot Owl’s melodramatic pursuit, and they may be inspired to emulate his hunt of a helpless pizza.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Featured/recommended
—Midwest Book Review

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick; First Edition (February 10, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 48 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0763675784
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0763675783
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7 years, from customers
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 2
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.16 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.56 x 0.38 x 10.13 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 236 ratings

About the author

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Sean Taylor

Sean Taylor

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Sean Taylor is an award-winning author of more than 60 books for young readers.

His picture books include the bestselling 'Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise' illustrated by Jean Jullien. Young readers are currently delighting in WHEN DINOSAURS WALKED THE EARTH! and his 'MONSTER! HUNGRY! PHONE!' series, which also features 'MONSTER! THIRSTY! DRINK!'. And he is the author of other popular picture books such as, 'HOW TO BE COOLER THAN COOL' 'KISS THE CROCODILE', 'THE SNOWBEAR', 'HUMPERDINK OUR ELEPHANT FRIEND', and 'ROBOT RUMPUS'.

For 6 - 8 year olds he has published 'WHERE THE BUGABOO LIVES!', illustrated by Neal Layton.

He has collaborated with Khayaal Theatre on the collection of funny Islamic folktales 'Riding a Donkey Backwards', and with the ecologist Alex Morss on the nature books 'WINTER SLEEP', 'BUSY SPRING', 'WILD SUMMER' and 'FUNNY BUMS FREAKY BEAKS AND OTHER INCREDIBLE CREATURE FEATURES'.

His novel for teenagers 'A WASTE OF GOOD PAPER' was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

Sean and his family have spent spells living in England (where he was born) and Brazil (where his wife is from). Here are three other things you might not know about him:

He always listens to music when he is writing - usually music that's good to dance to.

Because of his connections with Brazil, he spends some of the time thinking in Portuguese.

Once, during carnival in Brazil, he dressed up as Robin Hood and fired arrows with poems on into the crowd.

Find out more at www.seantaylorstories.com.

On Twitter: @seantstories

On Instagram: @seantstories

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
236 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book funny and witty. They appreciate the lovely illustrations and find it an enjoyable read for children ages 5-10. The story is charming and the illustrations are cute.

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HumorIllustrationsEnjoymentStory qualityAge range
16 customers mention "Humor"16 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it funny, witty, and entertaining. The illustrations complement the text well, making it fun for readers of all ages.

"...It is so funny and cute. The illustrations are lovely too...." Read more

"My 6 year old daughter likes it. It's cute and a bit funny too. A great read for little ones." Read more

"...If funny and cute great for Tickling purposes. Hehe." Read more

"I'm an adult, and this is now one of my all time favorite books. It is hilarious...." Read more

10 customers mention "Illustrations"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the illustrations in the book. They find them cute and lovely.

"...It is so funny and cute. The illustrations are lovely too...." Read more

"My 6 year old daughter likes it. It's cute and a bit funny too. A great read for little ones." Read more

"...If funny and cute great for Tickling purposes. Hehe." Read more

"Adorable book. Packaging was odd. A little folded on the edges when I got it." Read more

5 customers mention "Enjoyment"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find the story witty and fun to read.

"No issues. Son really enjoys the book." Read more

"Amazing, brilliant and such a laughing out loud book...." Read more

"...Everyone wanted to know how he came up with that. Great book." Read more

"Silly and fun read..." Read more

5 customers mention "Story quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story and illustrations. They find the book charming, despite some page wear.

"...I enjoy it immensely. The story and the illustrations are just charming. Two thumbs up, highly recommended!" Read more

"The story line is okay, but some of the wording is really not that great...." Read more

"A cute story, which my students loved, but the binding broke at the first reading...." Read more

"Great story but was clearly once a library book and had a page fall out on first read." Read more

4 customers mention "Age range"4 positive0 negative

Customers like the book's age range. They say it's great for ages 5-10 and a good read for little ones.

"...It's cute and a bit funny too. A great read for little ones." Read more

"This is one of the best children’s books I’ve ever come across. My grandsons love it, especially when we read it with a little dramatic flair...." Read more

"...This is great for ages 5-10" Read more

"This book is perfect for both kids and adults. Especially adults who are witty or sarcastic...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Emma
    5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and cute
    Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I LOVE this book! I am an elementary librarian so I know children’s books pretty well and this is one of my favorite read alouds. It is so funny and cute. The illustrations are lovely too. And there can be so many activities you can do alongside this (e.g. disguise an owl your way)
    Helpful
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  • Courtney
    5.0 out of 5 stars Silly and fun read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    My son enjoyed this book and we giggled as we read it. I would definitely recommend it!
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  • Heidi Grange
    5.0 out of 5 stars Plenty of silliness.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Hoot Owl prowls around looking for something delicious to eat. He uses disguises to get close to different prey and then waits for them to come to him, when they don't he sets off again, hungrier than before. The humor here comes not only with the different disguises Hoot Owl wears (carrot for the rabbit, sheep for the sheep, etc.), but in his supreme confidence that he is a master hunter and that will catch something to eat if only he keeps trying. It never occurs to him that his methods might be somewhat lacking in effectiveness. Unfortunately, the funny ending doesn't disabuse him of this notion. But child readers are bound to figure it out and laugh themselves silly at Hoot Owl's foolishness.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Super cute
    Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    My 6 year old daughter likes it. It's cute and a bit funny too. A great read for little ones.
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  • CEJK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Get This Book!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is one of the best children’s books I’ve ever come across. My grandsons love it, especially when we read it with a little dramatic flair. I enjoy it immensely. The story and the illustrations are just charming. Two thumbs up, highly recommended!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amanda
    4.0 out of 5 stars but some of the wording is really not that great. I can think of better ways to word ...
    Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    The story line is okay, but some of the wording is really not that great. I can think of better ways to word it where it would rhyme better and be easier for kids to read. I got this originally for my son who is three, but I had a ten year old (5th grader) try it out to test her reading fluency (a literacy element we test for as teachers) and she struggled with it. She kept wanting to say what I assume is what I was thinking would be better wording. It does have some advanced vocabulary in there for a book at this age level - as well as some interesting word layout. I did get the kindle version, so it may look a bit better if it were in a book in front of us, but I don't think it would make a huge difference. It's a cute story, though.
    Helpful
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  • sheldon amezcua
    5.0 out of 5 stars My Son loves it.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    We got this for my son at the local library he love it so much we need to buy it for him. If funny and cute great for Tickling purposes. Hehe.
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  • Treehouse
    5.0 out of 5 stars A new favorite in our house
    Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Borrowed from the library and when returned just had to get a copy
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Top reviews from other countries

  • nl
    5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant story!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    A lovely story. It arrived quickly and was exactly as described.
    Report
  • Meg
    5.0 out of 5 stars A children's book that parents will enjoy reading!
    Reviewed in Canada on September 13, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    My sister had this book from her local library and I loved it and wanted my own copy. It's such a fun book to read outloud. The only thing I wasn't expecting was that a couple of the words were different in the copy that I received because it came from the UK. I would have preferred to get a copy that was the same as what I had read originally, but it doesn't take away from the fact that it's a great book!
    Report
  • Hippolyta
    5.0 out of 5 stars I really like the story of an owl who never gives up...
    Reviewed in Germany on April 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Hoot owl is a funny little owl who never gives up. He is hungry and does his best to get the food he deserves. In his own creative way he trys different methods to "hunt". After a long night of "hunting" without a satisfied result, he does not quit and gets a delicous meal.
    I enjoyed the journey of this owl. The book is well overthought and nice drawn. I like the repeatition of the "slogan" of hoot owl and have it still in my ears. Considering all the facts, I really recommend this book for children and adults, too.
    Enjoy it :)
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  • Zoe N
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book is totally awesome. The pictures are great
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 26, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This book is totally awesome. The pictures are great, the story is hilarious. I'm buying it for every child I know, and forcing adults to read it too.
    I challenge you to read it without doing a silly spy voice.
    Report
  • Squeak 'n Banana
    5.0 out of 5 stars And look there... hungry owl schemes dramatically!
    Reviewed in Canada on June 6, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Finding a picture book that is fun to read aloud is a treat, because when your little ones want the same book read over and over again, it should be a good one. Meet Hoot Owl, master of disguise. Behold! Flowery speech abounds as Hoot Owl goes on a hunt for his evening meal. He tells his readers that he has many disguises to capture his prey. However, the reader soon realizes that Hoot's hunting skills do not quite match his bold claims. Never mind! Hoot is resilient, so the reader is happy that he finally "captures" a meal.
    Report