Owly by Andy Runton
Early reader graphic novel, ages 4+
Oh my goodness pals, this is such a SWEET series. Not cloying, but just genuine and kind and lovely. Owly, who speaks only in icons, is a flightless owl who feeds birds, even though they’re terrified of him. He wants a friend… and his kindness in helping others despite their fear gets him MANY over the course of the series to date (including his bestie Wormy, humminbirds, a possum, a butterfly, and some bluebird buds). My 7 year old, who is totally into fighting goblins and being intense, is in love with the the gentle kindness and the relatable adventures. He also likes that there aren’t a lot of words and they’re nearly always paired with iconography, so he can understand the story without an adult or too much struggle. And they’re fun to read aloud, with just enough emotional tension to keep everyone really rooting for Owly and his buds.
