"Little Owl loved surprises." Flying in the magical night sky, Little Owl, a small brown bird with enormous, luminous green eyes, spots his friend Hedgehog, who is happily snuffling through a newly discovered mushroom patch. "Don't you love finding mushrooms?" Hedgehog asks. "It always feels like such a surprise!" This gets Little Owl thinking: What does he love? Stylized, colorful, and appealing illustrations show what our avian hero sees, from shimmering stars and croaking frogs to snoring bears, a mysterious beaver's lodge, and some hidden butterflies. The more Little Owl looks, the more he finds. His friend Raccoon shares some beloved activities, too, and Little Owl remembers other amazing things he has seen and experienced. As the night comes to a close and he heads home, Little Owl is filled with wonder at the forest and his many memories, which he can't wait to share with Mama. Just right for bedtime, this simple, charming tale beckons young listeners to stop for a moment and share some of the things they notice and enjoy. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A paean to the wonders of the night and an invitation for children to observe, appreciate, and discuss what they love. (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

PreS-K--Little Owl is a charming creature, curious about the world around him. This book finds him happily flying over the forest where he lives. He sees Hedgehog down below gazing at a mushroom patch on the forest floor and glides down to visit with him. Hedgehog marvels at the wonder of mushrooms and loves everything about them, making Little Owl think about what it is that he loves. As he continues his night flight, he sees so many things that make him happy, from the fireflies to the frogs and the bears. He loves them all. Although he never thought about it before, he has more love around him than he knew. He loves the butterflies and moths, and in a conversation with his friend, Racoon, realizes that they have a lot of love in their lives. What an epiphany! It will help young readers learn that, if they take the time to think, they, too, are surrounded by love. The writing is spare and evocative, and the art is striking. Against a night setting, the colors of the animals jump off the page in all their beauty. Children will love the characters and the beautifully illustrated story. VERDICT All libraries would benefit from adding this book to their collections. Its elements combine to make it a great story hour book as well as one children will want to take home.--Joan Kindig