Want to give your early independent reader a hoot of a time? Introduce her to Owl Diaries, a series from Scholastic’s Branches line that stars a little owl named Eva Wingdale. Throughout the series, Eva learns a number of valuable — or owl-uable — lessons, from overcoming jealousy and apologizing to friends she’s hurt, to learning to ask for help when she needs it.
The Owl Diaries series features vibrant illustrations, easy-to-read text, fascinating owl facts (Did you know that a group of owls is referred to as a “parliament”?), and reading comprehension questions at the end of every book that sharpen emerging readers’ skills.
Best for five- to eight-year-olds who have graduated from picture board books and leveled readers, the entire Branches line features diverse, dynamic works that will keep your child engaged and enhance his reading comprehension abilities. Learn more about the Branches line on the Branches site, and read more about the Owl Diaries series below:
1. Meet Eva, a plucky owl who loves the color red and hates her mom’s slug sandwiches. In Owl Diaries #1: Eva's Treetop Festival, Eva’s bitten off more than she can chew when she proposes the Bloomtastic Festival and tries to manage every part of it by herself. It’s a lot more work than Eva ever expected — will she be able to get the help she needs in time?
2. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No — it’s a ghost! Eva insists she’s seen something spooky in Owl Diaries #2: Eva Sees a Ghost, and she’s on a mission to prove it to her best friend Lucy and her classmates. But what they discover is even cooler than a ghost...
3. Eva’s teacher, Miss Featherbottom, is getting married! Eva and her classmates form a Secret Wedding Planners Club, but soon the Wedding Planners Club becomes a Detectives Club when Miss Featherbottom’s precious necklace goes missing. Find out if the owl-tectives solve this mystery in time for the wedding in Owl Diaries #3: A Woodland Wedding.
4. There’s a new owl in town, and Eva tries her hardest to befriend the newcomer. But when new owl Hailey grows close to Eva’s best friend Lucy, Eva feels left out. Read as Eva and Lucy both learn lessons about friendship and forgiveness in Owl Diaries #4: Eva and the New Owl.
5. Warm Hearts Day has everyone in a tizzy, especially Eva — she’s so excited to make fun homemade gifts for all her friends! But soon she realizes she forgot to make gifts for her family members. Will she be able to make their gifts in time? Find out in Owl Diaries #5: Warm Hearts Day.
6. Mrs. Featherbottom announces a story contest, and the winner will receive signed copies of Owl Ninja books from the author himself! But Eva’s too distracted to write anything — her pet bat Baxter is missing! Will she ever find Baxter? And will she manage to write a story before the author comes to town? Join Eva in her search for Baxter in Owl Diaries #6: Baxter is Missing.
7. In Owl Diaries #7: The Wildwood Bakery, Eva's friend Macy reveals her little sister can't fly on her own, so Eva's class starts a fundraiser to buy her an owl-some flying chair! But the class soon splits into two competing factions: Half of the class opens a bakery to raise the money, while the other half opens a candy store. Can Eva get everyone to work together as a team to reach the goal?
8. Eva and her classmates are preparing to take the important Owl Oath, a vow to protect the other animals in the forest. Eva tries to prove she’s ready by helping a lost pony in the middle of an intense storm that has hit Treetopolis, but the rain and wind are so bad that Eva gets stuck in the storm, too! Will Eva be brave enough to save herself and the pony? Find out in Owl Diaries #8: Eva and the Lost Pony.
9. Eva’s planning a big sleepover to celebrate her birthday, but her friend Sue doesn’t seem to want to come. "Why won’t Sue come to my sleepover?" Eva wonders. Could it possibly be first-time sleepover jitters? See if Eva can help Sue overcome her fear in time for the big party in Owl Diaries #9: Eva’s Big Sleepover.
10. Eva is going to babysit her little brother, Mo, and she’s ready for the challenge! In Owl Diaries #10: Eva and Baby Mo, Eva and her friends have prepared everything Eva could possibly need to take care of her baby brother: bug candy snacks, a puppet show, and a song to lull him to sleep. But soon, Eva learns taking care of a baby is hard work. Will she be able to get Mo to sleep before her parents come home?
