Owls have a wide variety of vocalizations. Owl Moon describes the sounds to listen for when you go owling. The illustrator, John Schoenherr, lives on a farm in New Jersey. The young girl in the book is based on her daughter, Heidi, who is now an adult with her own daughters, Glendon and Maddison. Her husband, a birdwatcher in real life, is portrayed as Pa in the story. Share biographical information about the author and illustrator with students: Yolen was inspired to write Owl Moon because her husband often took their children owling in the woods near their farm in Hatfield, Massachusetts. What techniques did she use to make it sound like a poem?.

How did the author create a quiet tone for the story?.What words and phrases give sensory details?.What similes and metaphors are in the story?.What do you think she hoped readers would say after reading her book?Ĭollect descriptive phrases Jane Yolen used to help readers paint pictures in their mind.Why do you think the author wrote this story?.What outdoor adventures have you enjoyed?.What sounds could you hear in your imagination?.What animals do you notice as the story unfolds?.Invite students to share personal responses to the story and illustrations: What clues do the title and cover illustration reveal?.Why do you think the characters in this story decided to go walk in the woods at night?.What sights and sounds would you see on a winter walk in the woods during the day?.Ask guiding questions to spark their responses: Introduce the book, Owl Moon by having students look at the cover illustration and share their predictions and connections. This book won the Caldecott, an award for extraordinary picture books. Invite your students to crunch through the snow on a quiet moonlit walk in search of a Great Horned Owl. Jane Yolen's story inspires readers to experience the wonders of nature. In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a young girl and her father go owling on a wintry night in the woods.

Owl moon book cover