Owen (Caldecott Honor Book)

Owen was wrapped between two pieces of cardboard. Three pierces went through the cardboard and the backside looks as if some vehicle ran over it. Two sides of the of the cardboard was ripped. The spine of the book is broken and a crease goes down the front of the book. I cannot give this book as a gift as I intended. I am very unhappy as this lovely book for was a darling new born Owen.

Owen had Fuzzy and Fuzzy had Owen. Almost every child I know gas a favorite stuffy or toy or blanket that brings security and lived with them. This is a story for all parents and grandparents to read and ponde,and then to make your own decisions with your family.

Mrs. tweezers the most neighbor mentioned that she thought Owen was too old to keep dragging a blanket around. Fuzzy was Owen's security,and he lived Fuzzy. Owen's parents thought Mrs Tweezers had a point, but they needed to find the right answer for their family. Owen was going to school, and could not bring the blanket, Fuzzy, with him. Ultimately, the parents and Owen made their own decisions, and it as right for them.

The writing is superb,and for any child and their parents, many parts of this story will ring true. The illustrations are bright and vivid and tell the story of Owen and his dilemma. I led the lessons learned. And the concept of the issue may help other parents.

Recommended. prisrob 07-11-15

Ever heard of the blanket fairy? Until reading this, I never had.

The mouse family in this book is very cute! I loved the expressions they have. Young Owen is very attached to his blanket. His parents try all sorts of methods to get him to part with it.

Parents can relate to having to separate the baby items (first stuffy, blanket, pacifier, etc) from their child and kids can read this for alternatives and that every kid goes through adjustments in their life.

Ah, Kevin Henkes. Is there anything he cannot do? From inspiring books like, "Lily's Purple Plastic Purse" to the far more adult (and Newbery Honor Award winning) "Olive's Ocean", this man is accomplished in the extreme.
With "Owen", Mr. Henkes has created the kind of story he excels in. Owen is a small mouse that is the proud owner of a yellow blanket named Fuzzy. Fuzzy goes wherever Owen goes and does whatever Owen does. Owen is nothing so much as Linus from "Peanuts" in mouse-form. Soon Owen will be going to school, and his parents attempt more than one possible solution to pry Owen away from his favorite blanket (with the help of the ever-nosy Mrs. Tweezers next door).
Owen's parents are a kind of new-agey type. Their not particularly comfortable telling Owen no on anything. They are certainly attentive, that's for certain. And Henkes's illustrations are delightful. There's nothing particularly ground-breaking in this book and the moral at the end is, if anything, that ingenuity is far better than untried advice. However, this is more a moral for parents than children.
Just the same, kids will like Owen and those with their own comfort blankets will perhaps be inspired by his mother's ingenious solution to their woes. In any case, any book that teaches children to love handkerchiefs (Fuzzy's eventual fate) has got to be doing SOMETHING right.

Almost all children have a favorite blanket or stuffed toy that makes any situation more comfortable. Children vary a lot in how long and how extensively they rely on these friendly objects. Social pressures to relinquish the objects often make the child even more insecure. In this worthy story, your child can learn how to keep this warm connection while reducing social embarrassment.
"Owen had a fuzzy yellow blanket . . . . He loved it with all his heart."
"Fuzzy goes where I go."
"Fuzzy likes what I like."
"He carried it.
And wore it.
And dragged it.
He sucked it.
And hugged it.
And twisted it."
You can see the close connection from these quotes.
The crisis is brought on when Owen announces, "I have to bring Fuzzy [no longer literally so] to school." What to do?
If you are a first-time parent, this book will suggest a solution that almost all parents rely on (or a variant thereof). As such, it is a great gift to parents and children.
The book was honored by Caldecott for its illustrations which rely on bright watercolor paints and black pen outlines. Owen and the other characters in the book are mice, and they have a visual sweetness that helps take the anxiety out of the book's subject. If the characters were humans, the book could feel threatening to the child who isn't ready to give up the blanket or other security object.
I suggest that you also ask your child what you can do to help make new situations feel more comfortable. The process of becoming more separate from home and parents is a difficult one. Although almost everyone will make it, there's no reason why the transition has to be a harsh and unpleasant one.
Provide an inner sense of security in all the loving ways you know!

When busy-body Mrs. Tweezers begins questioning how Owen still carries around his security blanket, Owen's parents begin trying out schemes to get rid of the old thing before Owen heads off to school. Owen is having none of this.

A fun little story, though it seems more appropriate for parents than kids. After all, it's mainly about the battle between parent and child, and the efforts we take to help them grow up. Not too cerebral; it just seems unlikely to me that a child will be all that interested in reading about the wonders of sacrificing things to grow up.

My now college age daughter still treasures her yellow blanket, and I still achingly remember a heart-in-mouth trip back to a hotel after the horrifying discovery...it....wasn't...in...the...car!!!!!

We absolutely loved this delightful book, and read it out loud every night, substituting her name for Owen, of course. In true childhood fashion, she waited breathlessly every night to find out what would happen to "Owen's" blanket. Gently humorous, with lovely, appealing illustrations. A must read for any kid who is devoted to a tattered piece of cloth.

So when my girlfriend had her first child, what else was I to do but order a copy of this book, along with a yellow blanket, which helpfully popped up when I did the title search.

So, author, if you follow your reviews, consider this belated review a "thank you" for many happy memories.

Kevin Henkes did a wonderful job in illustrating and writing this book. His illustrations make it easy for children who can not quite read yet, still be able to follow the story and figure out what is going on. The written text to the story completes the illustrations and vice versa. The pictures Mr. Henkes paints are very colorful and catch the reader's attention. This is a great book for beginning reader's or for parents to read to their children.
The story is about Owen and a blanket, named Fuzzy, he has been attached to since he was a baby. He is getting ready to start kindergarten and his neighbor brings it to his parents attention that he will be a little old to be carrying a blanket around. She makes several suggestions for them to try and help him let his blanket go on his own, but none succeed. By the end of the story, Owen's mother comes up with a plan that satisfies everyone.

Owen clearly has a problem. Kevin Henkes doesn't shy away from letting us know, through the illustrations, that his problem is a buttinsky neighbor.

Unfortunately, Owen's parents listen to their neighbor and keep taking her dubious advice about his blanket. Of course, Owen really *can't* bring his blanket to school - but his parents finally stop thinking of Mrs. Tweezers' view of things and come up with a bright idea - they turn Fuzzy into handkerchiefs! Perfect solution and everybody's happy.

Great ending, and I do love Owen's passive resistance to his parent's obsession.

I loved the pictures in this one. They were colorful and should keep the kids interested during story hour. The story was cute and had a good message. I personally still sleep with my blankie but I use it to cover my eyes instead of buying a sleep mask :-)

Love Kevin Henkes' books! I have planned entire classes around several Kevin Henkes books. The beautifully crafted stories and colorful illustrations captivate audiences of all ages. And there is always a special lesson we can learn from our little mice friends!

...I love this book! Once again the author Henkes created a loveble and real character that young children (especially ones with "blankies") can relate to!! I find "Mrs. Tweezers" (the nosy next door neighbor) absolutely hysterical as she constantly harasses Owens parents to get rid of his blanket... "Haven't you ever heard of the vinegar trick? The Blanket Fairy? Just saying no?" Owens mom ultimately saves the day in a way which even Mrs. Tweezers can't object! Owen is a book which children love... and adults don't CRINGE while reading!

Henkes is my favorite children's author. I especially like Owen because so many kids do have a little "comfy" that they depend on and would just hate to give up. My son carries around a stuff blue turtle everywhere. The pictures are wonderful. Henkes can show expressions and emotions in the most minute way (like widening the eyes to show fear or surprise). The characters are precious. If you have a little one with a favorite blanket or stuff toy, this would be a great book to read out loud to them.

This children's book is about a young mouse named Owen who keeps a yellow blanket, named Fuzzy, by his side all the time despite efforts of his parents to have him give it up. Finally, a solution is found just before Owen is to go off to kindergarten. Children (and their parents) who have their own blankets should really enjoy this tale. This book was a 1994 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a children's book.

Owen (a mouse) has a wonderful blanket named Fuzzy. He takes it everywhere and Fuzzy enjoys everything Owen does, like peanut butter and bath times. A pesky lady who lives next door shares some ideas with Owen's parents about how to separate Owen from Fuzzy, but none of them work, and Owen and Fuzzy get to stay together. The story is rather fun, with a little tension, but no scary bits. The book has about 550 words.

Do you remember your blanket? Well little Owen has a big problem! He needs to go to school and his nosey neighbor doesn't think he should go with a blanket. She suggests various ways to break his habit, but in the end Owen's mom comes up with the best possible solution.

I loved this book for many reasons--the illustrations are charming, the story has a common theme for many young children, and the characters are based on ones that children may encounter. I think this book would be a good discussion book for the difficult topic of giving up your security blanket--and for the topic of other adults who interfer in young lives with good intentions.

Owen is one of my favorite characters of all times...probably because like Owen, I was very attached to my blanket. How I wish this book had been published when I was a child! As usual, Kevin Henkes' story is charmingly written and illustrated. There is a lot of humor, plenty of which will make parents laugh as hard as(or harder than) their children.
When Owen's busybody neighbor, Mrs. Tweezers, convinces Owen's parents that he's too old to carry around his beloved, yet tattered, blanket, his parents begin a campaign to separate Owen and the blanket. Little do they know the lengths to which Owen will go to protect his blanket. Owen's Mom comes up with a solution that makes everybody happy, even that annoying busybody Mrs. Tweezers! Owen is a spunky, loveable little guy!
Enjoy!!

I like this book because when nosey Mrs. Tweezers thinks of ways to get Owens parents to get Owen to stop bringing his blanket everywhere, they don't work. The best one that would work in real life is saying no. I know this book by heart because it's my moms favorite, and she always reads it to me first.

Owen is a marvolous book that made me wander what next. I like
his books because of how well Kevin Hankes illastrates and writes his books. Owen will not give up his blanket until...Read
and find out more amazing facts about Owen.

I really enjoyed this book because it reminded me of my son who is also attached to his blanket. I love how Henkes relates book to everyday children. I think that it is very important to provide children with books that they can relate to. By depicting the mice to have everyday issues draaws children to this book.

Honestly, I was mad when I finished reading it to my 5 year old who still has her blanket.
I wanted to and tell that nosy Mrs Tweezers on the other side of the fence to stfu and mind her own business. And these stupid parents listened to her and tried to steal the security blanket

I echo the person who said it sends the wrong message. Kids will grow out of their transitional objects (the technical term) on their own. My daughter doesn't carry hers around with her everywhere but she still sleeps with it and when she is upset, it comforts her. Eventually, she'll do without I have no doubt.

But stealing it from her would be cruel and that is what the old busybody next door told these foolish parents to do.

If the 2-Star review is still active, please ignore it. The person mistakenly rated their "sales experience" as opposed to the quality of the book itself. Speaking of which, the book is hysterical, as most any book by Kevin Henkes is. It won a Caldecott for a (very) good reason, folks :-)

Owen is a family favorite. My daughter loves the illustrations and easily relates to Owen and his dillema. I enjoy Owen's parents and their struggle for a solution. Owen's mom has a wonderful idea that allows Owen to keep his blankie but encourages him to grow up. We read this book over and over!

When I first read "Owen" to my first graders while student teaching, I was hysterical! I, too, remember having a Sesame Street blankie when I was a toddler; and for love or money, my parents just couldn't seem to get rid of it. They put it out for the garbage collector, but I retrieved it. They hid it, but I found it. Owen's story highlights the hilarious events leading up to getting rid of the blankie, or whatever else is difficult to grow out of. Enjoy!

Absolutely love all the Kevin Henkes books we have, This is especially cute because we have a boy who loves his blankie. I know a lot of little girls who love Lilly...but I would definitely recommend this and Chester's Way for the boys!

I definitely recommend this book to readers of all ages. This sweet book is one that everyone can relate to. The main character loves to carry his blanket EVERYWHERE but learns an important part of life..how to grow up.

Buy this book! Everyone can relate to the sweet story of Owen and his favorite blanket Fuzzy. Hooray for Owen's Mom who comes up with a creative solution to an age old dilemma. Delightful illustrations. This will be a favorite at bedtime.