When Tanna's father brings home an abandoned owl, she is not eager to
take care of the needy, ugly little bird. Tanna must wake at 4:00 a.m.
to catch food for the owl. She must feed it, clean up after it, all
while avoiding its sharp, chomping beak and big, stomping talons. After
weeks of following her father's instructions on how to care for the owl,
Tanna must leave home for school. Her owl has grown. It has lost its
grey baby feathers and is beginning to sprout a beautiful adult snowy
owl coat. As she says good-bye to the owl, she is relieved not to have
to care for it anymore, but also a bit sad. This heartwarming story
based on the author's own life experience teaches young readers the
value of hard work, helping, and caring--even when the thing you are
caring for does not love you back.