Owen

Book Review by Kate Lis

Owen Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes

__Original Publication Date__ - September 28,1993 __Publisher__ - Harper Collins Publishers __ISBN__-13: 9780688114497 __Number of Pages__ - 32 __Barnes and Noble Hardcover Price__ - $10.61 __Age Range__ - 3 to 5 Years


 * Summary **

Owen is a children's book about a mouse who will not go anywhere without his fuzzy yellow blanket. He carries it with him wherever he may go like to play outside, to sleep, and to even go to the bathroom. Owen's parents never saw a problem with this until one day Mrs. Tweezer's told them that it was not appropriate for Owen to bring his blanket with him everywhere, especially since school was starting. For days, Owen's parents tried to trick him into giving up the blanket, but every time Owen out smarted them to keep his blanket. Owen's parents could see that he would never want to give up his blanket so they came up with a happy compromise! They cut Owen's blanket into smaller pieces so he could take a piece with him wherever he goes!


 * Review **

__Owen__ was always one of my favorite books as child and I still enjoy reading it. __Owen__ is a story that all children can relate to because it describes the anxiety one gets when they first go into school. Every child has that stuffed animal, friend, or parent that they do not want to leave behind while they go off to school. Owen shows children that it is okay to be scared, but you have to be able to compromise. This story has a very clear story line that makes it easy to read and follow along. The problem and solution are easy to indicate as well. I could see this being used in the classroom by creating a story map with the elements of a story.


 * Analysis of Literary Element **

One of the themes that __Owen__ shares with the reader is the changes one has to make as they grow. An older reader may read this book and feel nostalgic and think back to when they had to give up their prized possession to start school or another step. A reader more of Owen's age may think forward to when they will have to give up that possession to begin to grow up. Although, Owen did not cut cold turkey the compromise he made with his parents shows the reader that it is okay to keep a little bit of childhood even as you grow.


 * Author Biography **

Kevin Henkes was born in 1960 in Racine, Wisconsin. Henkes was inspired as a child by work at the Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts. He attended college at the University of Wisconsin. He chose this university mainly because of the education program's Cooperative Children's Book Center. After his freshmen year at school Henkes headed to New York to start his writing career. In 1986, he first became popular because of the mice characters he created in __A Weekend with Wendell__. After this first success thirteen more mice books would be created. The most famous of all was created in 1996, __Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse__. In 2005, Henkes won the Caldecott Medal for his book, __Kitten's First Full Moon__. He recently just published his thirty fifth book, and hopefully many more to come!