Owl Babies, By Author Martin Waddell, Illustrated By Patrick Benson (Ages 3-7), Paperback

It's the middle of the night. Three baby owls — Sarah, Percy, and Bill — wake up to find their mother gone. And in the dark, with the world feeling very big and very quiet, all they can do is wonder: Where has she gone? What is she doing? Will she come back?

"Owl Babies" by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Patrick Benson is one of those rare picture books that captures something every small child feels — that deep, instinctive need for the person who makes everything okay. Told with warmth and gentle humor (little Bill's repeated refrain of "I want my mommy!" will feel instantly familiar to any parent), and brought to life through Benson's breathtaking illustrations of soft, wide-eyed owlets against a dramatic moonlit forest, this is a book that soothes as much as it delights.

And when Mommy comes back? Pure joy — flapping, bouncing, dancing joy. The kind that reminds little ones that she always does.

A perfect bedtime read for ages 3–7, and a gentle, reassuring companion for any child navigating separation anxiety.

✏️ About the Author & Illustrator

• Martin Waddell is the acclaimed author of more than one hundred children's books. He received the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2004 and is a two-time winner of the Smarties Book Prize. He lives in Northern Ireland.
  
  
• Patrick Benson is the illustrator of many beloved books for young readers, including Owl Babies and North by Nick Dowson. He lives in Scotland.
  
  

📣 What Critics Are Saying

• "This story will strike a familiar chord in every small child who has been afraid when left by a parent… A wonderful ‘read to me’ book for nap time, story time, or bedtime." — Booklist
  
  
• "Enchanting… illustrations of the softly colored baby owls set against a black night will captivate preschool listeners." — Modesto Bee
  
  
• "Benson's soft, wide-eyed birds… are perfect stand-ins for wise little toddlers who also know Mom will turn up — but still can't help wondering." — Kirkus Reviews
  
  

🏅 Featured in "50 of the Best Kids’ Books Published in the Last 25 Years" — The Huffington Post