Hilary Horder Hippely (A Song for Lena) champions courage and kindness while presenting a difficult and relevant topic--unhoused families--in I Know How to Draw an Owl. Award-winning illustrator Matt James (The Funeral) elevates Hippely's heartfelt story with his richly layered, deeply saturated art.
"Today we're drawing owls," Ms. Rio announces. Among her students' results, Belle's work is especially notable: "Belle's owl almost looks alive!" Belle merely shrugs in response; she knows exactly why, but she's hardly ready to tell. Once upon a time, Belle and her mother had their own house, "with a table and chairs and a sleepy cat." But these days, they live in their "old blue car," in a "shady park." Belle's mother assures her it's "the perfect place... when it gets dark." They're lucky, too, Mom insists, because of a nearby hoot owl keeping watch over them. One night, Belle finally meets their avian guardian: "He stayed with me for a long, long time, I think to say--I'm glad you're here. I like sharing my home with you." And that's why Belle can "draw an owl so well." With the owl's wisdom to guide her, she knows just how to welcome the new kid, recognizing he, too, is likely unhoused. "I understand," she promises. "I'll keep my eye on you."
Hippely's rhythmic text gently reveals the heavy reality happening on the page. As a teacher, Hippely's experience with unhoused students is personal, and her descriptive story depicts "the bravery of the students who come to school each morning, and the bravery of the parents who try tirelessly to keep hope alive." James's stupendous spreads, created with acrylic paints, never downplay the hardships children and their families face. As the bus delivers students home, soft brightness bathes classmates' homes; where Belle lives, darkness falls, offering shelter, yes, but not without anxiety of the unknown. Mom sleeps while Belle lies awake trying to adjust to a "strange, new place." The "big and wild" owl, as he flies toward Belle, takes up a whole spread, his wings spanning far beyond the pages. James uses artful details to add to the story, showing kitty-less Mom and Belle, cracks in the wall around a classroom windowpane, and fading car paint. Challenges abound, but a caring hand and unexpected friendship are empathetic antidotes to uncertainty and fear. --Terry Hong
Shelf Talker: The challenges of being unhoused are gently revealed in this empathetic picture book, exquisitely enhanced by superb illustrations.