Booklist Online Exclusive: May 26, 2026

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Readers are told that, if their substitute teacher turns out to be an owl, they shouldn’t worry but need to be very quiet, as owls are “nocturnal”: “They sleep the entire day and teach . . . at night.” So begins the tale of a group of youngsters being taught in a most unusual manner, after dark when everyone else at school has gone home for dinner and bed. They learn various facts about owls while being introduced to new vocabulary words along the way. Mahoney makes the lessons fun, and the illustrations add to the humor of the text. Classes include physical education, social studies, math, English, and science, with the added bonus of a field trip. Onomatopoeia and words such as plumage, plucks, quill, and pellets are seamlessly integrated along with their definitions into the text. An unexpected but instructional and enjoyable night spent with a wise owl.

— Maryann Owen