When I can fly by Katie Stewart

As Little Owl was growing up he could see the city in the distance. He wanted to get closer to be able to see the lights and practised his exercises to make his wings strong. His mother pointed out the moon and the stars and their brightness, but Little Owl was not convinced, he wanted to go to the city.

Eventually his wings became strong enough and off he went, mum telling him she would always be there for when he returned.

Arriving at the city, all seemed what he wanted, but the lights were too bright, they moved too quickly, were too loud and there was nowhere safe to sleep. He looked up at the moon with thoughts of home: he missed the quietness of the frogs, the sight of the moon and stars, and he missed his mum. So he turned right around and flew back home where mum was waiting for him.

A delightful story of ‘there’s no place like home’ will endear itself to the readers. Younger readers will have no hesitation in agreeing with Little Owl going back home, but at the same time admiring his bravery in trying to widen his horizons. All readers will recognise the pull of testing your wings but knowing someone is always there when you return. The comfort of being able to stretch your wings and change direction if it is needed, is there for all younger readers to see.

Author/ illustrator, Katie Stewart has created a gentle and astute story akin to an Aesops’ fable, where an instruction about life is given through a story, without it being too heavily imposed. The gentleness of the owl wanting to go to the city and finding it not to his liking is very telling as he feels confident enough in his mother’s care, to return home.

The double page illustrations will entreat the readers as their eyes sweep across the night landscapes.  I loved the endpapers with the beautiful feathers resting gently amongst the leaves.

Themes: Owls, Taking flight, Leaving home, City.

Fran Knight