From a tiny hatchling Owl knows he is destined to be a knight. His dreams are filled with heroic scenes - slaying and capturing enormous dragons. His parents are not sure this is a good idea, but something is going on the kingdom. There are reports in the local newspaper 'The Olden Times' that record numbers of knights have gone missing.
Things are so desperate that the castle has a poster proclaiming:
Knighthood in just 2 weeks. Apply today!!! Live a life on honour and ADVENTURE!
So young Owl applies to attend Knight school and yes - he is accepted. Some of the equipment is a bit of a challenge but he graduates with honours and is allocated night duty - Knight Night Watch. Other knights fall asleep, but night is the perfect time for young Owl. Then one evening he hears a whoosh. An enormous dragon lands on the castle battlement. The dragon threatens to eat the little owl, but Owl is brave and wise (as all owls are). He shows the dragon his pizza box and
"it turned out that dragon loved pizza. They talked about how each of them had hatched from eggs, how much they liked the night, and how flying was hard to explain to someone who had never down it before. They really had a lot in common."
Oh, and bonus - now the issue of disappearing knights is solved. And our little hero has heaps of new friends especially friends who love the nighttime.
I have read this book many times and each time I make new discoveries. Once you first read Knight Owl you need to go back and explore all the extra details in the illustrations such as newspapers, posters, book spines, and even a pizza box!
Knight Owl was a Caldecott Honour book in 2023 and winner of the 2022 Cybils award.
At its heart, the Cybils Awards is a group of readers passionate about seeking out and recognizing books that portray diversity, inclusion, and appropriate representation for children and teens. To accomplish that goal, the Cybils Awards works to recognize books written for children and young adults that combine both the highest literary merit and popular appeal.
Here is a fascinating interview between Christopher Denise and Betsy Bird. And here is Christopher Denise's web page.
2024 is the Year of the Dragon - this book will be a perfect one to share in classrooms and libraries. There are thousands of picture books which feature dragons but pop this one onto the top of your pile.
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