NONFICTION

The Urban Owls: How Flaco and Friends Made the City Their Home

by Christian Cooper (text) & illus. by Kristen Adam
Little, Brown. Feb. 2025. 40p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780316583572.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2–For readers drawn to the true story of Flaco and the thrill of spotting owls that roost in New York City, this work has riches to offer. Luminous illustrations of Flaco against a star-studded night sky glow, while the back matter may well inspire enthusiastic birding. The narrative attempts, not always smoothly, to string together a loose collection of owls that ended up in Central Park, and to build empathy by drawing awkward parallels between birds seeking flight and freedom to the city’s reputation for drawing in newcomers, people with dreams who arrived from other places and became true New Yorkers. Digitally created artwork, like the narrative, is a blend of realism and art, and it flows smoothly.
VERDICT An optional purchase for primary collections outside of New York City, this may do well in the city where Flaco is justifiably famous.
Reviewed by Jessica Fenster-Sparber , Mar 28, 2025

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