Review: Learning self-confidence and bravery
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 25, 2013
Israeli author Elan Ezra is a young talent in the book field, this being his second book but most assuredly not his last! The `story bug' hit Elan when at age 21 he worked in a kindergarten reading stories to children: now he is writing them which goes along with one of his mottoes, ` This is your life. Do what you love and do it often.' He is assisted in this book by excellent illustrator Fabiana Farcas.Paul, an elf owl, is very small but at age ten months he longs to fly. His mother encourages him to wait until she has gathered food for him before he tries flying. After eating the insects his mother feeds him, Paul takes off and flies! He passes by a large Spotted Owl named Gary who makes fun of his small size. Sad, Paul seeks advices from his loving grandfather and his grandfather tells him, `Even if you are a small owl, you are still an owl, and you can do anything your want.' Jolted by the episode, Paul decides he will sleep at night (despite his mother's warnings that owl's function during the night only) so he won't have to face Gary in the daylight. But when the sun comes up and Paul faces the forest in the daylight, that is more frightening than his encounter with Gary. But that night Paul flew out for his own food and once again Gary mocked him for being so small. But not to be insulted, Paul flies around and discovers three chick owls trapped in a tree trunk - brothers of Gary who attempted to fly too early. Through a series of incidents Paul ends up helping the bigger Gary rescue his trapped brothers, gaining Paul respect from the one who criticized him and a sense of growing into a brave owl, following his grandfather's sage advice.The story is well constructed and the characters are beautifully developed. The moral of the story shine through - the sign of a very well told tale! Grady Harp, December 13