School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3-This adorable book begins with brave and courageous Owl longing to become a knight; however, his small stature presents many problems, and there are those who doubt if Owl is up to the challenge of his future career as a knight. Owl's dream is too big to let the negativity of others stop him, so he tries out for the knighthood and gives it his best efforts. Denise crafts a humorous and witty book, allowing readers to share in the small owl's adventures and reflect on some of their own life challenges. The glorious images, reminiscent of the work of Arnold Lobel, add flare and intrigue, and when the Knight Owl defends the castle from the enemy, the details in the illustrations provide depth and add to the mythical fantasy for an outstanding conclusion. This is a great read-aloud that also teaches a homonym or two. VERDICT A clever tale for old and young; the lesson to hang on to one's dreams always bears repeating.-Tanya Haynes