Owls in the Family

I love owls and I love this book. Our family read it together. It's so funny.

Adorable book! We are using it as a read aloud in conjunction with an owl study in my fifth grade classroom. It has some teachable moments, including the idea of stealing a baby owl from its nest/mother and other examples of some inappropriate treatment of animals. I didn't see this as problem, despite my own sympathies for mistreatment of animals. All of my students were very concerned about the welfare of the animals in the story, so I think it only bolstered their strong feelings for animal welfare. If you're particularly sensitive to this content, I would still consider the book. the enjoyable writing style and delightful antics of the characters outweighed the more sensitive issues. I recommend it.

My children and I love this book. We checked it out from the library first and loved it so much that we decided to buy it. There is a bit of a warning for more sensitive readers. Farley Mowat doesn't dumb down nature or people and sometimes there are some harsh realities. We appreciated that the author had a strong point of view; it added authenticity to his story.

This is a great book about the youthfulness of boys and their adventures. That Wol and Weeps are really the main characters for most of the book is great, but the underlying theme of boyish fun is really what makes the atmosphere of the book. I had this read to me by my father when I was young and now I've had the chance to do the same for my son. A great read and a great book to pass along from generation to generation.

My boys (7&11) absolutely loved this book.

A good story, funny at some points, but puzzling at others. Mowat evidently spent years and years with this little boat and could never find the source of its leaking, yet refused to get rid of it. He personifies the boat. "She had already made up her mind about that and there was no way she would go further." This is amusing in a way, but superstitious in another. It's difficult to tell where Mowat draws the line. Also, he seems to have no job or permanent home to return to, and his boat becomes his way of life for many years. Almost 20, as far as I can determine (the timeline is a little fuzzy). It's hard to relate to what may be a part-time fascination or a full time way of life with no discernible income or purpose. This may be okay if the narrator is a teenage boy (as in The Dog Who Wouldn't Be), but in an adult it's rather concerting instead of amusing. This story also doesn't have a definitive ending, so it's rather unfulfilling.

Farley Mowat is one of the best nature writers ever. This book retells his boyhood years living with two great horned owls who thought they were differently-abled dogs. Owls are charming, bloodthirsty animals and Mowat, a wildlife biologist by training opens readers' eyes to the whole outdoor experience in a way few people ever have. He tells the story of the owls in a way that is realistic, charming and shows what can be done with wild animals.

An older friend told be about a story she remembered reading when she was younger. Searched and found this! Got her and I a copy.A nice story of being a young boy allowed to roam on the long summer days and the collection of animals he dragged home.

Livro muito bom, páginas de qualidade. Vale a pena!

I have purchased this book, "Owls in the Family" a number of times to give as gifts. I love the story by Farley Mowat. It is a delightful story about an adopted owl and how the owl begins to think of itself as a member of the human family with whom it lives. Lots of laughs and delightful adventures. Enjoy.

I'm probably biased because I come from the area around Saskatoon, and had to read this book in school. But I love this book, and love reading it to my kids. The language is wonderfully lyrical, and truly feels like home.

livre anglophone broché souple format poche papier recyclé ancien (1996/1961) racontant les aventures romancées de deux chouettes originaires du Saskatchewan, Wol et Weeps; 11 chapitres d'un texte alerte et amusant illustré de quelques gravures n&b; ce petit roman ancien et mal illustré, sans grandes prétentions et destiné à un public jeune pas trop exigeant scientifiquement, n'en reste pas moins amusant dès qu'on se laisse prendre par l'intrigue.

Liked this book as a kid, reading now to my kids