Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love owls so I was excited to read this book. I loved all the pictures and information.

I was first given a copy of this book in digital formatting when it was still undergoing editing by the author and his publisher. As a result I found the book to be quite a mess and still a work-in-progress even though I was still intrigued by it. Fortunately for me the author chose to contact me and send me a copy of his completed book so that way I could see as well as read it in its final stage.

Just as I had suspected even in its rough format this book is a true gem! Mark Wilson's love and understanding of owls is conveyed to the reader as they are given a tour of these magnificent birds, what makes them different from other birds, what makes them all similar to each other even as different species and undoing the stereotypes that we have placed on these birds. As a result the book is a treasure trove of birding facts for birders of all ages.

The book also explores in depths the different species of North America while giving their various names, the coloring of their feathers, their calls, the menus they eat from and so much more. There is also a page or two that shows just how well these predatory birds are able to blend into their environment while providing the reader with great informative diagrams and colored photographs to enhance the reading experience.

And for future birders who want to be able to get to know these birds better there is a section that helps you to be able to have tips for finding the birds, knowing what legal birding practices are, how to build shelters for them and how to create a nice birding environment for them if you would like to have more chances of possibly meeting them in person. And there are even profiles of people and how they have made owls into professions as well as places in each state to visit to be able to get to know these birds better.

All in all it was a great book and one that will be a favored birding book for a long time to come.....

***I received a free copy to read of this book in exchange for an honest review.***

This is your one-stop book for thorough and fascinating coverage of owls. Crisp, detailed photographs bring to life every aspect of owl anatomy, nesting, habitat, and hunting. Owl pellets, which always fascinate kids, are covered in great detail. The book finishes with conservation and rehabilitation efforts and a reputable link for making your own owl box. The glow-in-the-dark cover is icing on the cake.

I waited until I could get a hard copy from our library network before buying. Our local children's librarian agrees that this is an incredible book and ordered one today, too! I recommend this for teachers to add to their classroom libraries.

Owling: enter the mysterious birds of the night by Mark Wilson is worth every penny.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the eARC.

This book is filled with fascinating facts about owls and some of their unique abilities. Educators could use this alongside an informational text unit as a mentor text or to guide class activities. I enjoyed reading about owls and learning what it is like to prowl at night. After reading this I have a new appreciation for owls.

Owling is a fascinating look at the diverse species of owls found in the United States and Canada, perfect for young birders and budding scientists. The educational, interactive text invites kids to observe and appreciate their local wildlife, and the gorgeous photos will be sure to inspire a newfound love of nature in all readers. Mark Wilson’s reverence for these incredible birds shines through in delightful anecdotes gleaned from his extensive scholarship. I’m eager to go on an “owl prowl” myself after reading this book, and Wilson offers practical, engaging advice on the best ways to see these birds in the wild while still being an ethical guest in their habitat.

Everything you wanted to know about 19 North American species of owls. Learn about how they fly, see, hunt, eat and more. Owning will teach you how to identify the different species by the plumage or call, you can even learn how to hoot back! Full of stunning photography. An excellent resource for kids and adults alike on all things owl.

A fantastic book, with excellent images and quality information of the main species in North America. I was surprised by interesting data, for example that some species have adaptations for hunting such as asymmetric ears and other species have soft body feathers that dampen sound.

Another fact that I did not know is that these birds do not build their nests, but use those left by other birds and even old burrows or tree cavities of mammals. The book has a brief explanation to build an owls house and the dimensions required according to the species.

I found the section of experts who work with owls to be particularly significant, from the educational point of view, it gave my son and me a clear and concrete perspective of the efforts that some people are making to rescue and preserve the wild life. Therefore I recommend this book that provides a broad and sufficiently detailed overview of the owls of North America for elementary educational uses, for children and young naturists in training, and for the caregivers who want to accompany them on their journey of discovery.

My sincere appreciation to the Publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review the book

Includes a broad introduction to owls and the characteristics they share, 2-4 page profiles of each species of owl found in North America outlining that species’ defining characteristics, followed by a guide for would-be owl watchers, and finishing with 1-2 page profiles of some people who hold jobs that let them work regularly with owls.

This is not the type of book I’d hand to a kid expecting them to read straight through (unless they are a die-hard owl lover). I’d hand it to them expecting them to use it as a resource to identify an owl, gather information on owls in general or a certain American species specifically, or to explore various occupations that allow people to work with owls. It is a fantastic resource for each of those things providing extensive information on each one. And there are fantastic photos of all kinds of owls throughout to make owl lovers super happy. Recommended for schools and classrooms to have on hand for research, and of course, if you know an owl lover, they probably need this book.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Owling is a fascinating children’s non-fiction book that offers a comprehensive introduction into lives of these remarkable birds.
I was surprised to learn that owls’ huge mesmerizing eyes mean there is less space in brain, so the reputation for being all-knowing and wise may not be wholly deserved. I had no idea owl have twice as many vertebrae in their necks as we do and can turn their heads 200 degrees in any direction. The book offers a wealth of information on their binocular vision, ear tufts, sharp talons, and silent wings (there are specialized sound-dampening feathers). Young nature lovers also learn to distinguish between different owl species, observe these magnificent birds in nature and respect their habits.
Gorgeous illustrations and well-thought-through layout will catch and hold the young readers’ attention.
Owling would make a great addition to elementary and middle-grade school library.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Owling: Enter the World of the Mysterious Birds of the Night by Mark Wilson is a children's nonfiction book currently scheduled for release on March 5 2019. Wildlife photojournalist and nature educator Mark Wilson presents a look into the mysterious lives of these distinctive birds. Images of the nineteen owl species of North America nesting, flying, hunting, and catching prey are accompanied by information about the birds’ silent flight, remarkable eyes and ears, haunting calls, and fascinating night life. Kids will learn how to spot owls; identify their calls, plumage, and pellets; and even carry on a hooting conversation with a nearby owl.

Owling is a well written book about owls. The pages are bright and bold, with full color photographs and diagrams. The text is broken into manageable portions, with fun questions and facts scattered through the pages to further engage readers. I really enjoyed seeing the differences and similarities between different kinds of owls. I also found the detailed information about each of the native North American owls to be well organized and written. I found the information on finding owls, and on how to make my yard and the environment in general, more owl friendly to be very helpful and responsibly done. I like getting information like this, which benefits the wildlife I love as much as myself. I also found the chapter on working with owls to be extremely interesting, since animal rehab or working in a zoo environment is likely to be in my daughter's future is current trends continue. The glossary and other resources in the endpapers were useful as well, and I think will help encourage young readers to explore further.

Owling is an interesting and well organized non fiction book for middle grade and older readers. I thought I knew a lot about owls, but I was glad to learn some new information here and will be using resources like ebird.org to help find owls with my children.

Through gorgeous photos and plenty of cool facts, Owling by Mark Wilson teaches kids about these beautiful birds of the night. Nineteen different North American owls are looked at. Learn how they fly silently, see so well, can turn their heads so far around, as well as learning how to identify different owl calls and feathers, and even how to carry on a conversation with a nearby owl. My cubs and I loved this book! We have great horned owls around us, and 'talk’ with them sometimes. We also have a ‘ghost owl’ (aka barn owl) in the neighborhood. I'm 100% convinced they are responsible for banshee legends. Recommended for those with an interest in nature!

***Many thanks to Netgalley & Storey Publishing for providing an ecopy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think this book is wonderful for young children with any interest in owls or birds. The photos were wonderful. The reasearch and explanations seem very easily digestible for young researchers, especially for any sort of project or report they may be doing. It is still readable for anyone looking for less of a fact driven book, but still contains wonderful bits of information. When I grabbed the book, I was thinking of my bird loving kindergartner, but this is not a book I would read to that age group. I would consider this more middle grade interest level. A wonderful non-fiction option for the independent and curious reader.

Living in a rural area we have a number of owls the come and visit - one which we call the screeching owl, and a common barn owl that we have seen so far. They are lovely birds and keep to themselves much of the time.

I found this a really interesting book about owls, written mainly with the North American owl in mind, it does cover a lot of basic facts about the making of an owl - eyes, ears, bones, neck and lots more, before getting into detail of north American species. I love owls and find them fascinating, and this was a very informative book for me as an adult, I would think children and young adults would find this book equally interesting.

This book goes above and beyond the basic facts of owls, and without grouping wildly different species all together. They are often crepuscular, NOT nocturnal, as many others would have you believe. There are so many different sections, maps, diagrams, etc. that cover so much, without being overwhelming, and with gorgeous photos! As an owl enthusiast, I am thrilled to see a detailed, accurate book perfect for young owlers like I once was!

Fabulous photographs accompanied by every non-fiction text fiction any ELA teacher oils list make this a terrific non-fiction book for libraries of all types whether public, classroom, school, or personal. Author Mark Wilson gives readers grades 4-8 detailed information on owl anatomy, predatory behavior, breeding, habitat, species, and even includes ways to possible view these elusive raptors and possible careers working with them. While I am likely to purchase this one for my library collection, there are a few critical comments: First, the text switches between first and third person throughout which is more than a little off-putting for this former English-Language Arts teacher. And it was odd to have nearly every page in the book feature beautiful photographs except for the two pages that illustrate how to design a yard that is attractive to owls. The almost cartoonish looking section did not seem to fit the book’s layout at all. Lastly, the length of this book exceeds most non-fiction books purchased for middle grade libraries, but is broken up into clear sections and photographs, diagrams and side bars keep the reader’s eye and mind moving.

This is an excellent book all about owls. It is both appropriate for kids and adults as it has lots of pictures and information. I love the simple explanation of needing to see an owl in the wild, not at the zoo or one in captivity but one in the wild. Excellent book

What a fascinating book! This book covers everything you need to know about owls and more! Habitats, food, characteristics, types, where to find them and working with owls. I love that so many of the different types of owls were included in the book to compare with others. This would be an amazing book for an upper Elementary and above classroom as well as the library.

A really nice introduction and informative read about owls. Really great if you have or know anyone who likes owls. A book tailored towards kids, so you do get that kind of set up.

Owling was a fascinating and complete look at owls. This book was written in a clear but detailed manner illustrated with beautiful photographs. The faces of the owls staring out at the reader was mesmerizing at times. The book began with general information about owls, continued on with specific owls found in North America, then how to find owls which included a section on owl pellets and homes. One thing I remember about owl pellets was getting to dissect one as a student in elementary school and I though it was so interesting. Finally the author shows us about working with owls to protect them and learn more about them. I learned quite a bit about owls reading this book, which really surprised me. This would be a great book for any public or school library, where children love to read about and learn about animals in our world. Owls seem to be one of those animals that attract a lot of questions and interest, so, read this book to satisfy your curiosity. The publisher, Storey Publishing, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.