Owl at Night

A gentle touch and a lyrical voice are the features of Paul's first book. She tells a simple story, starting at twilight, when a little girl and her younger brother are at the dinner table with their parents. Their old dog comes into the house to eat from his bowl. Outside a rabbit is nibbling on a lettuce leaf; a robin is feeding her nestlings. Then everyone, except the owl in the tree, settles down to sleep. The owl awakens and calls his ""Who-oo Who-oo'' before he swoops through the air to catch his meal and survey his dark domain. In the morning, when the people are up and doing and the other creatures are busy, the owl settles back on its perch to sleep the day away. Utterly beautiful watercolor scenes in Stock's envied style enhance the dreamy, hushed feelings that bedtime storytellers and listeners want. (37)