Good Night Owl by Greg Pizzoli (review)

When a recurring squeaky noise prevents Owl from sleeping, he grows increasingly agitated as he searches for the source of the sound. He checks the front door and clears off the shelves of his cupboard before succumbing to utter frustration as he pulls up floorboards, removes the roof, and knocks down his walls in an attempt to get to the bottom of the matter. It is only then that Owl notices what the viewer has been privy to all along—the source of the noise is a squeaking mouse: “Owl smiled. He said, ‘Good night, noise.’ And they went to sleep.” The pithy and accessible writing and the story’s amusing absurdity make this read like a classic Arnold Lobel story, and Owl certainly bears a resemblance in personality, if not appearance, to Lobel’s lovable curmudgeon, Toad. While the attractive illustrations and possibilities for dramatic delivery lend this to reading aloud, the clear sans serif font and simple vocabulary give it read-alone potential as well, especially for readers who are one step up from Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie series. Pizzoli’s artwork, rendered in candy pastel and neutral tones with retro detailing, is tidily and thoughtfully composed. Pale turquoise Owl in his bubblegum-pink bathrobe cuts a comical figure as his increasing discombobulation sends his feathers flying and his eyebrows slanting in anger. The little gray mouse is a cutie, and kids will enjoy spotting it on each page. Share this as part of a unit or storytime devoted to Pizzoli, as part of an owl-, mouse-, or noise-themed storytime, or enjoy it on its own goofy terms.