Review of Owl and Swallow

[Nenye Charles]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Owl and Swallow" by Eduard Theron.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The book, “Owl and Swallow: The Competition” by Eduard Theron, is a children’s book that discusses friendships and answers some questions about animal characters in the book. At the beginning of the book, a conversation ensues between an owl and a swallow. Owl is curious to know why the swallow doesn’t eat but only flies all day. However, the reply the swallow gives is unconvincing, saying he neither eats nor drinks too, just like the swallow.

While in doubt, they mutually agree to enter into a competition to determine the authenticity of their claims. While the competition is going on, their friendship blossoms, as they now spend time together. At the end of the book, readers get to find out if they truly eat or not. This is a secret the narrator tasks readers to keep.

This book goes beyond the conventional children’s book, as it integrates sentences involving rhyme schemes, such as ‘owl and howl,’ ‘fly and sky,’ ‘food and good,’ ‘mood and good,’ ‘poke and joke,’ and so on. These rhymes give a musical feel to the book, supporting early language development and better interaction, improving listening skills, and enhancing children's memory. The seemingly ambiguous words found in the book, such as ‘precision and mischievous,' would help broaden the readers' knowledge of words.

I found some illustrations too big, such as the pictorial representation of a swallow falling from the sky, among others. It would be less daunting if the sizes of these images were reduced. Again, the book would have a more relatable feel; the birds are assigned personalised names, like ‘Hootie the Owl,’ ‘Swift the Swallow,’ and so on, instead of generic names, such as ‘Owl’ and ‘Swallow'. I don’t have any issues with the book’s punctuation, as I believe it’s the author’s style of writing.

For the listed reasons above, I give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. It is an ideal recommendation for children between the ages of 3 and 9.

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Owl and Swallow
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[Louis Donald]

The mix of friendship and rhymes sounds like a fun way to engage kids while teaching them new words. The concept of a competition between animals intrigues me, and I’m curious to see how the story unfolds. I’d probably give it a read, especially for the creative twist on learning.

[Shaniz Tobiaz]

The author did an amazing job, and your review is well organized. Thank you for this

[Pearl Flourish]

“Owl and Swallow: The Competition” by Eduard Theron offers a delightful tale that not only entertains young readers but also enriches their language skills through engaging rhymes and thought-provoking themes. The story’s focus on friendship and curiosity, combined with its educational elements, makes it a valuable addition to any child’s bookshelf.