The Urban Owls

Lifelong birder Christian Cooper introduces us to the majestic owls that have made New York City their home, beginning with Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle-Owl that escaped from the Central Park Zoo. When Flaco escaped, “some people worried that he might not survive. But Flaco surprised everyone—he could do just fine on his own.”  

Another owl that makes its home in Central Park is Barry the Barred Owl, who likes to roost in the same spot along a path in the park. Barry captivated “curious people” who liked to go see her. Geraldine, the Great Horned Owl, also made Central Park her own, “even though she hurt her foot and it never healed right. Geraldine doesn’t let that stop her.”  

But not all owls want to make Central Park their home. Rockey the Saw-whet Owl lived in the quiet woods until she fell asleep and woke up in the big city. Her tree ended up in Rockefeller Center, “where it would soon be decorated with lights for everyone to see.” Luckily, “kind people helped Rocky get far away from the city and back to the woods.”  

The Urban Owls introduces readers to New York City’s owls while including many interesting facts about each type. The beautiful digital spreads focus on the owls by using light from the moon, neon signs, and the glow of windows. While all readers will find the owls beautiful, older readers may want to try to identify the owls’ differences, which are explained in the back matter. The backmatter also includes information about how to spot an owl and how to be a good owl neighbor. 

Throughout the book, Cooper draws parallels between the owls and people. For example, Flaco “worked the night shift, like most owls do (and like some people do too).” The illustrations also feature other animals, including a lightning bug, mice, a squirrel, and a dog in the window of an apartment. Plus, readers can learn about perseverance through Geraldine, who survives despite an injury: “A body that’s different doesn’t mean you’re not able to do great things.” 

Younger readers will enjoy examining the illustrations in The Urban Owls; however, the text-heavy pages and the inclusion of numerous facts make the book more suitable for older readers. Although The Urban Owls is a picture book, the story must be read aloud to young children, rather than read independently by the child. Readers may need help with some of the more advanced vocabulary, such as roost, perch, and fiercer. The Urban Owls is worth reading because it educates readers about owls and helps them become interested in protecting wildlife. Readers who want to learn more about animals should also read Polar Oceans by Bobbie Kalman and One Tiny Turtle by Nicola Davies. The Rocket Series by Nathan Bryon will also encourage a child to care for our world.