I Am Not an Owl (Rhonda Ooi, illus Mel Corrigan, Woodslane)

A small child who does not want to have a nap is a challenge. In this charming picture book for children aged 4 and up, Alexander turns the tables on his extremely patient mother by saying he doesn’t need to sleep during the day because he has important jobs to do and he is not a nocturnal animal. He is not an owl, flying fox, possum, wombat, or Tasmanian devil. Alexander imagines himself as each of these as he ‘helps’ his mother in their idyllic backyard. Rhonda Ooi has captured the intensity of a young child’s interest and cleverly provides fact boxes about each animal in Alexander’s imaginative journey. Mel Corrigan’s whimsical illustrations realistically depict the animals yet also celebrate Alexander’s creative flair. The text swoops and swirls across the pages to mimic Alexander’s movements as he energetically transforms into each creature. By the end of the book, all is well. Alexander’s last important job is to share his ‘blankie’ with his mother as they snuggle up together for a nap. I Am Not an Owl gently explores the struggle for autonomy young children need to express and the need for grown-ups to embrace this, but still enforce boundaries for the child’s wellbeing.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Merril Darling is a freelance book reviewer based in Melbourne. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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