Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise
 | |
| Author | Sean Taylor |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Jean Jullien |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's picture book |
| Publisher | Walker Books |
Publication date | 2014 |
| ISBN | 978-0-7636-7578-3 |
Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise is a children's picture book by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Jean Jullien.
First published by Walker Books in 2014, it's since been translated into 6 languages and adapted into a children's theatre show. It became a Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book in 2016, and won the Hampshire Picture Book Award in 2017.[1][2]
Plot[edit]
Hoot Owl is hungry, and decides to disguise himself to catch some food. He tries a series of improvised costumes - a carrot (to catch a rabbit), and an ornamental birdbirth (to catch a pigeon). He believes, as do many young children, that costumes will make him unrecognisable.[3] But his disguises are laughably ineffective and all fail - he is not, in fact, a master of disguise.[4]
The comedy of the book comes from the self-important delusion of the hero, and the contrast between his puffed-up ego and his inept plans.[5] It's been described as a parody of old fashioned suspense fiction.[4]
Ultimately, Hoot Owl 'catches' a pizza, by disguising himself as a pizza waiter, and all is resolved.
Publication[edit]
Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise was first published by Walker Books in the U.K in 2014, and subsequently by Candlewick Press in the U.S. It has been translated into 6 languages, including French and Italian.[6]
Adaptation[edit]
Hoot Owl was adapted into a show for children by Ellis Creez and Rebecca Hallworth of Proon Productions in 2018.[7] Featuring animation, puppets, live action and numerous costume changes, it toured theatres all over the UK.[8] Initially performed at the Stratford ArtsHouse in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2018, the show - with original songs - toured numerous theatres, from the Old Fire Station Theatre in Oxford to Bury Met in Manchester.[9]
Recognition[edit]
In 2016 it became a Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book, and was shortlisted for Scholastic’s inaugural Laugh Out Loud Book Awards (known as the Lollies).[10][1]
In 2017 it won the Hampshire Picture Book Award.[2] In 2018 it was awarded a Golden Dragon Book Award in Hong Kong.
Notes and references[edit]
- ^ a b "Charlotte Zolotow Award 2016 - InfoSoup". InfoSoup. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- ^ a b "School Library Service News". Wherwell Primary School. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- ^ "Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Children's Book Review: Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- ^ Van Vleck, Gay Lynn (1 Jan 2015). "Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise". School Library Journal. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- ^ "Taylor, Sean 1965". WorldCat. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- ^ Russell, Ben (2 November 2017). "Family favourite Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise comes to Redditch Palace". The Argus. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- ^ "Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise: reviews, cast and info.Outer London". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ Thompson, Catherine (31 May 2018). "Community support will help make a success of ArtsHouse". The Stratford Observer. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ Eyre, Charlotte (8 February 2016). "Inaugural Lollies shortlist revealed". The Bookseller. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
