Owl Be Seeing You by Susan Marie Chapman

A tenderhearted owl romance that’ll have you screeching with happiness

Grumpy the iguana is trying to sleep, but a persistent screeching out of his treehouse door won’t let him. When he ventures outside, long dangly arms in tow, he sees Screech Owl, calling for his sweetheart. It’s April—screech owls’ month for mating—and he promised his sweetheart he’d be right here, waiting for her.

But Miss Screech Owl is nowhere to be found. Grumpy, by no surprise, is feeling a little grumpy about the whole thing. Could Screech please quiet down so he could get some rest?

Screech knows Miss Screech Owl is out there somewhere, looking for him. She has to be. So instead of bothering Grumpy any longer, he flies off in search of her. Only problem is—Miss Screech Owl arrives shortly after, looking for her sweetheart. Will Grumpy let her screech loud enough to bring him back to her?

Owl Be Seeing You is just about the sweetest little owl romance your kid will read this year. Move over Simba and Nala, there’s a new animal power couple in town. Screech is such a romantic, whispering sweet somethings to his sweetheart and believing deeply in their love. When he finally returns—because for our little love-loving kids, he has to!—he soars through the sky, saying “You are my destiny.” If your little one is in a lovey phase, Owl Be Seeing You will tickle their little beating heart like it did mine.

The illustrations are something to hold dear as well. Grumpy as he may be, our leading iguana is more down in the dumps than he is angry. Sure, he doesn’t want to be woken up, but he’s not depicted in a manner that parents won’t want represented. He shares his emotions without judgment and, while he does guilt Screech into departing, he falls for the romance as much as Screech did and demonstrates patience in caring for the clearly befallen Miss Screech.

And the obstacle—Screech leaving just before Miss Screech arrives—is a good one. It helps us see that Grumpy’s actions had consequences and that we’re not entirely sure if the lovebirds will actually be reunited. That makes the moment of Screech’s return all the more emotional. Your little reader will be cheering on Screech’s soaring wings as much as mine was.

Owl Be Seeing You also incorporates a few pages of educational nonfiction about screech owls, like their small stature and supervision. Even when it dips back into the narrative, little owl facts make their way into the book in a natural way, like when they’re teaching our little ones about April as their month to mate.

This picture book romance is sweet and wholesome, a loving reminder of how mommies and daddies fall in love.