Hilary Horder Hippely’s 2024 picture book I Know How to Draw an Owl is lovely, brave, and disturbing. I almost cried when reading it.
The core idea is simple. When Belle’s class is drawing owls, Belle does an especially good job, especially with the eyes. This is because, unlike the other kids in her class, who lives in houses and apartment buildings, Belle and her mother live in a car.
They parked the car in a wooded park, and at night Belle repeatedly hears an owl, and finally sees one. Belle and the owl stare into each other’s eyes, having a moment of connection.
One day, a new student comes to her school. His car reminds Belle of hers, and so does his fear. She welcomes him, and helps him become at home at this new school.
That summary–simple, as I said–doesn’t do the book’s emotional tone justice: it is austere and full of wonder. It also doesn’t mention the art by Matt James, which is both a vivid illustration of what’s happening on a literal level and an energetic evocation of Belle’s emotional life.
This book addresses change, homelessness, being excluded, and the sense of wonder that can come through connecting with nature.
