A Bit Lost

Chris Haughton has transformed a simple story of a baby owl falling out of the nest and being helped to find his mother by a squirrel into a lyrical adventure. Misunderstanding and mis-introductions to a wide range of different creatures abound which leave young children in the satisfying position of being able to chorus and gesture to the repetitions of ‘“No! No!” said Little Owl. “That’s not my mummy! My mummy has…”’

Haughton captures Little Owl’s expression of bewilderment and rising anxiety with illustrations that are elegantly spare and memorably stylized with an emphasis on shape and colour. Young readers will enjoy finding hidden animals in the woods. The saga is satisfactorily resolved and – with a quirky twist at the end of the tale. This is a book that young children will want to have read and re-read!