#PPBF: Hoot and Holler – A Story About Friendship

Posted on January 31, 2014 by viviankirkfield

Today is Friday – I have a children’s book review to add to the Perfect Picture Book resource list that author Susanna Leonard Hill is building on her blog. For more wonderful reviews from authors, educators and others who contributed today, please go here.

I spent the most delightful morning at my grandson’s Kindercare kindergarten class. We had made a book together – he drew the pictures and told me what to write. Then he told his teacher that he wanted his grandma to come in to read the book to his friends. The teacher was thrilled (another pair of hands is always appreciated in a classroom filled with active kids)…and today was the day. Jeremy could hardly wait to get to school…in the car, he told me that he was a gazillion and trillion excited.

Of course I had a ball – and read a whole bunch of picture books with them in addition to the book Jeremy had made. It’s always fascinating to observe the interactions amongst the kids – friends one moment and arch-enemies the next.

So I decided to bring a book to you that addresses the topic of friendship…and with Valentine’s Day just two weeks away, it seems very appropriate.

Hoot and Holler

Written by Alan Brown

Illustrated by Rimantas Rolia

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (2001)

Ages: 3 and up

Themes:

Friendship, expressing emotions, overcoming fears

Synopsis:

Holler, a big owl, and Hoot, a little owl, played together every night in the woods. They were both shy, and neither friend spoke of how he felt about the other. A storm separated the two owls and each worried that he would never find his best friend. A wise old owl advised Holler to call out loudly for Hoot. Although Holler was very shy and had never been able to raise his voice, he found the courage to call very loudly…and Hoot heard him! They found each other and were overjoyed and were finally able to express their feelings of love.

Why I like this book:

Great read-aloud
Children will relate to the owls who find it difficult to express how they feel

How a parent can use this book:

Great read-aloud
Opportunity for discussion about expressing how we feel about others
Talk about how to be a good friend and how to show friends we care about them
Gives child a chance to talk about things that scare him

Related Activities:

Make A Paper Plate Owl

Photo: http://huppiemama.com/fall-kids-craft-paper-plate-owl/

You will need: One white paper plate, crayons or markers, construction paper, scissors, glue.

I found this craft at an amazing blog…huppiemama.com…her photos are so wonderful that you don’t even need instructions for this fun owl.

National Geographic Kids has an awesome website and lots of info and videos on owls: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/snowy-owl/

Another great link for animal info for kids is: http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Tyto_alba/

I start Susanna Hill’s Making Picture Book Magic class on Saturday. I am 100% excited! I’m also taking part in Doris K. Stone’s Fearless February, a challenge that encourages you to write 28 minutes a day for 28 days.

Since it’s the end of January, I’m happy to say that I’ve completed a

picture book draft for 12×12 (by the way…still time to join…don’t

hesitate if you write picture books and are wanting to submit to

agents)…and I have more than a dozen ideas for other stories. Five-year

old kids are natural story-sparkers…I basically walk around the house

with a pencil and paper and listen to him.

Please stop by on Monday for Goal-Busters with…

ALAYNE CHRISTIAN.

If you are having ANY trouble goal-setting or time-

management…you won’t want to miss that post!

Here’s a mom who knows how important books are for her children: http://mylifeismyrainbow.wordpress.com/

32 thoughts on “#PPBF: Hoot and Holler – A Story About Friendship”

readingwithrhythm on January 31, 2014 at 11:23 am said:

This book looks pretty cute. I like stories about good friends. And you can do the coolest things with a paper plate! I just eat them. Thanks for sharing!

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- viviankirkfield on January 31, 2014 at 12:10 pm said:
  
  They are especially tasty when they have the remainders of someone’s lunch, right? Glad you liked the book, Rhythm…I am sure you are your mom’s best friend.:)
  
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Sue Heavenrich on January 31, 2014 at 11:34 am said:

Oh, this looks like a perfect book for now – what with all these snowy owls coming around. I love the title.

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- viviankirkfield on January 31, 2014 at 12:12 pm said:
  
  It’s a really sweet story, Sue…and a great lesson in telling others how much we love them…kids, especially, need to hear they are loved…we can’t just assume they know it.:)
  
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Wendy on January 31, 2014 at 12:05 pm said:

This gets my vote for the cutest paper plate activity! Perfect for Superb Owl Sunday!

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- viviankirkfield on January 31, 2014 at 12:09 pm said:
  
  Hi Wendy…I agree…is that not one of the best paper plate crafts ever? Some people are just so creative…I had to share it.:)
  
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Patricia Tilton on January 31, 2014 at 12:45 pm said:

What a beautiful story about compassion for children. There are similar themes today in some of the books shared. I enjoy your owl activity, as will kids. Nice selection today!

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- viviankirkfield on January 31, 2014 at 10:44 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Pat! No matter how many books we find about friendship, we always need more. 🙂 Glad you like the owl craft…I’m going to do it with Jeremy.
  
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julie rowan zoch on January 31, 2014 at 3:34 pm said:

Oh, no – another book I wish I’d written!

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- viviankirkfield on January 31, 2014 at 10:46 pm said:
  
  I feel the same way about so many books…to tell you the truth, Julie, when i think of an idea or book title these days, I google it to see if someone already wrote it…that happens a lot.:)
  
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  - julie rowan zoch on February 1, 2014 at 12:29 am said:
    
    I do too! Dreading the possibility of the one I came up with today existing already too!
    
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clarbojahn on January 31, 2014 at 8:18 pm said:

This book sounds like a winner. I hope my library has it. Unfortunately last week when I went to the library with a list they didn’t have any of them. sometimes they have some. And it’s a great county wide system.

Like the look of your web site, here, Vivian. How have you made Pinterest part of it? 🙂

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viviankirkfield on January 31, 2014 at 10:53 pm said:

Clar…I never had a problem in Colorado with book requests…I don’t think there was ever a book they didn’t have or couldn’t get a copy of from some other library. Here in Amherst, there have been several I requested that are not available. (

I joined Pinterest (search for Pinterest…then join)…and then I think there was a place on the Word Press dashboard (settings I think, then click sharing)…I believe you can link your Pinterest account to there and when people click on the Pinterest logo, they can follow your boards…I don’t know much about Pinterest yet…but I do love the visual aspect of it.

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Pingback: Weekly Round-Up of Kid Lit Reviews and Posts: Week #3 | Mother Daughter Book Reviews
Kirsten W. Larson on February 1, 2014 at 11:13 am said:

I LOVE the adorable owl craft to go with the story. Paper plates…brilliant!

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- viviankirkfield on February 3, 2014 at 9:52 pm said:
  
  Aren’t paper plates the BEST craft material for kids? This was the best owl craft I had ever seen…I had to share it, Kirsten.:)
  
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thiskidreviewsbooks on February 1, 2014 at 4:47 pm said:

This sounds like a great book! 😀

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- viviankirkfield on February 3, 2014 at 11:32 pm said:
  
  It’s a really great story, Erik! And so true…many times we don’t tell others how we feel…but we should.:)
  
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Tracy Campbell on February 1, 2014 at 6:48 pm said:

Vivian, what a wonderful post. So glad Jeremy got to take his grandma to school. love the owl activity and the book sounds great. 🙂 Congrats on finishing your draft PB! 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on February 3, 2014 at 11:33 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Tracy! I know I am so very lucky to have this special time with Jeremy.:)
  
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Stacy S. Jensen on February 1, 2014 at 7:22 pm said:

Owl + friendship = perfect. So perfect that you were able to visit his class. Of course, we miss you here in Colorado! Enjoy Susanna’s class! It is Picture Book Magic!

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- viviankirkfield on February 3, 2014 at 11:34 pm said:
  
  I miss you guys, too…I’m grateful to have the Skype critique sessions…it helps me still feel really connected.
  I’m loving Susanna’s class…you are right…it is magical.:)
  
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patientdreamer on February 2, 2014 at 6:51 am said:

This is such a beautiful story and the illustrations are just the cutest. Looks like you are having a lot of fun time with grandson. How amazing you get to read to his class. Awesome that he enjoys it too.

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- viviankirkfield on February 3, 2014 at 11:35 pm said:
  
  It’s lots of fun, Diane…and I know the director of the program would LOVE to have me there as often as I’d be willing to do it…if only there were more than 24 hours in each day.:)
  
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Yulia on February 3, 2014 at 2:32 pm said:

My kids are book lovers!!! looks like a very good book, we will try to find it at our neighborhood library… hope they have it.. thank you Vivian 😉

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- viviankirkfield on February 3, 2014 at 11:41 pm said:
  
  I hope they have it, Yulia! Our library in Colorado used to get books that we wanted from libraries across the country. And I’m so happy you love to take your children to the library…I’m going to link your post to mine.:) You are a wonderful mom and I know you are always encouraging your children to love books!
  
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Susanna Leonard Hill on February 5, 2014 at 8:19 am said:

Aw! What a cute cover and sweet story! And how can you go wrong with a title like Hoot and Holler?! I haven’t read this one, but I must! Thanks for sharing, Vivian 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on February 5, 2014 at 6:38 pm said:
  
  It’s is a sweet story, Susanna! And Hoot and Holler is the perfect title.:)
  
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