Knight Owl by Christopher Denise

Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
Illustrator: Christopher Denise
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.)
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

A determined Owl builds strength and confidence in this medieval picture book about the real mettle of a hero: wits, humor, and heart.

Since the day he hatched, Owl dreamed of becoming a real knight. He may not be the biggest or the strongest, but his sharp nocturnal instincts can help protect the castle, especially since many knights have recently gone missing. While holding guard during Knight Night Watch, Owl is faced with the ultimate trial—a frightening intruder. It’s a daunting duel by any measure. But what Owl lacks in size, he makes up for in good ideas.

Full of wordplay and optimism, this surprising display of bravery proves that cleverness (and friendship) can rule over brawn.

I borrowed this book from the library and read it to the six-year-old girl that I nanny for. We do not want to return this book because it was that good. Of course, we will but first we will read it another fifty times.

I appreciate how the synopsis for this story shared just enough of the plot to capture my interest yet left a few surprises for us to discover. Such as how some of the knights were recently missing. I never would have guessed the reason behind how they went missing.

We enjoyed the suspense when the frightening intruder comes on scene. The illustrations really added to the suspense.

The main character is an owl who dreamed of becoming a real knight. He may be small, but he had some big ideas to save the day from the frightening intruder.

The story ends with a positive message for young readers about bravery, cleverness, determination and friendships.

I thought it was cute when the story shows a picture of the owl sleeping and it says, “And he had a habit of nodding off during the day.” That launched a conversation about animals being nocturnal.

If you need a little optimism, then this book serves up a good dose. This was a great summer 2023 read!