Jane Yolen uses the power of comparison to teach background knowledge in OWL MOON. Both Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr went owling as children. Their intimacy with this extraordinary experience creates a picture book that is an adventure for the senses, a book about sights, sounds, touch, and emotions. A reader without this background will welcome Jane Yolen's frequent use of metaphor, simile, and analogy to convey the experience. The vocabulary is not difficult and the text is arranged in phrases vertically on the page; these two features benefit struggling readers. Yet, the beautiful language engages older readers also. This story is one of the best examples of writing craft I've ever encountered in a deceptively "simple" children's picture book.
Jennifer Sneed has an Owl Moon Puzzle. The Wise Teacher has a Reading ComprehensionPlus Synonyms and Phonics lesson.
My Picture Book Talk lesson is here. My Study English lesson for this book is here.
