Review: Put On Your Owl Eyes by Devin Franklin

Each week on my blog, I post about a different theme: picture book biographies, nature, cultures around the world, and strong girls. This month has 5 weeks, so this week let's read about... nature (again)!


Put On Your Owl Eyes: Open Your Senses & Discover Nature’s Secrets; Mapping, Tracking & Journaling Activities


Available as: spiral-bound, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 144
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC
Publication date: May 28, 2019
Suggested tags: middle grade, nonfiction, nature, activities


From Goodreads:

"Children will see the natural world around them with brand new eyes, as they learn to follow its signs, hear its language, and understand its secrets. With this unique and compelling book written by expert environmental educator Devin Franklin, kids aged 8 to 13 will build their own relationship with nature through finding a “Sit Spot” — an outdoor space in the backyard, in a field or in the woods, in a vacant lot or a city park — where they can stop, observe, and become familiar with the flora and fauna that live there."

I've flipped through a lot of books that are intended to get kids interested in nature and exploring the outdoors, but I've never read one quite like this one! This book goes beyond just observing - it's meant to fully engage kids in the world of nature, to get them looking and listening and thinking and feeling and pretending. It's beautiful. It might be a bit much for some readers who are looking for a few quick activities to try while they're playing outside, but for those who are looking to have a more meaningful experience during their time spent outdoors, this is a great guide for that.

The book contains an introduction (which explains a bit about the book and how to use it, as well as inviting readers to discover a "nature nickname" for themselves), then 5 sections: first a general "get to know your backyard" section, then sections devoted to trees, mammals, birds, and community. Each section has 3 exploration activities, such as mapping, tracking, journaling, or practicing skills like looking with "owl eyes" or listening with "deer ears". Scattered throughout the book are short pieces about experiences with nature from the author as well as other writers, photos of plants and animals, and blank sections with questions and prompts for writing or drawing. The author explains concepts such as habitats, tracking, bird sounds, etc. and then includes some activities to further explore the topics. The book ends with a section called "Your Backyard Journey Continues," where all the amazing things readers have learned and done throughout the book are recapped, adding a nice feeling of accomplishment. For readers who are interested (and willing to pay a fee), there are also instructions for submitting the work done within the book for a "backyard nature guide certification" (aka: certificate of completion) through the Flying Deer Nature Center, which is a wilderness school for kids and families; its Program Director, Devin Franklin, is the author of the book. Finally, there's a "Connections" section with information and websites for other nature organizations and programs.

For some readers, perhaps those who are just starting to form an appreciation for the outdoors, it may feel a bit overwhelming - there are a lot of activities, and many require a lot of patient, quiet observing. But for readers who want to start paying more attention to their surroundings and learning how to really listen to and learn from nature, this is a goldmine of exercises and ideas. I think this book will inspire a true love of and appreciation for nature in a lot of kids, setting them on the path to becoming budding naturalists.

Final verdict: I loved it! I thought this book was good! I enjoyed reading it and I would probably recommend it to others.

{ Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy.
My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }