I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This is the story of a young spotted owl who fell out of her nest and is saved by a wildlife biologist giving her a second chance at life.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for the ARC of this conservationist non-fiction!

My kids liked that this followed a particular owl in addition to talking about the Earth as a whole. There was a lot of information packed into this, including information on habitats, climate change and logging, how baby owls develop, and more. A great addition to our science unit on birds.

I tried to read this book a couple times to my kids, but the story just did not pull my kids into the book. I ended up putting this book down without finishing it. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

Amazing wildlife conservation and wildlife rehabilitation book!

Between the stunning illustrations, endearing story, and interwoven conservation and rehabilitation information, this book really packs in a lot to learn and enjoy! I would recommend this to nature loving kids and educators alike. What a great delve into the world of conservation and wildlife rehab!

Thanks NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the ARC of this book.

This would make a fantastic book review book. This is one of those picture books that’s written for second or third grade and is considerably long for it’s 36 pages. This is the story of a spotted owl who is rescued as a little fluff ball and goes on to live and breed and become a scientific case study as people help save the population of spotted owls. This book is full of wonderfully fantastic information if not a little long and dense.

Beautiful illustrations and we loved learning about Zalea! We particularly loved the inclusions of actual pictures of her. There is a lot of information in this book. Like a lot a lot. And while we really enjoyed parts of it, I found myself needing to skip portions for my 8 year old. The pages were just too dense. We skipped bits but considering we could go back to it and the parts he took in were so well done, this is still a four star book. I appreciated the inclusion of a glossary as well!

Book Review: Saving the Spotted Owl by Nicola Jones

Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars

Saving the Spotted Owl by Nicola Jones is a remarkable true tale that takes readers on an enchanting journey into the world of owl conservation. This heartwarming story follows the life of Zalea, a three-week-old northern spotted owl, as she faces the challenges of her species’ endangered status and the tireless efforts of a team of dedicated wildlife biologists to save her.

The book begins with Zalea’s unfortunate fall from her nest, leaving her vulnerable to predators. However, luck is on her side as wildlife biologists spot her and make the decision to rescue her. Zalea finds herself at the Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Centre in Langley, British Columbia, where she joins other owls awaiting release back into the wild. Nicola Jones, an award-winning science journalist, skillfully weaves together Zalea’s story with captivating details about owl biology, life cycles, and the importance of conservation and habitat protection.

One of the standout features of this book is the stunning artwork by Alexandra Finkeldey. From the cover to the illustrations throughout the pages, Finkeldey’s work transports readers into the world of Zalea and her fellow owls. The combination of realistic illustrations and real-life photographs adds depth to the narrative and enhances the learning experience.

Jones’s writing is both informative and engaging, making complex concepts accessible to young readers. Information boxes and sidebars filled with interesting owl facts are seamlessly integrated into the story, providing additional educational value. The book also offers curriculum links to life science lessons on biodiversity, ecosystems, endangered species, and animal habitats, further enhancing its suitability for classroom use.

Beyond its educational value, Saving the Spotted Owl: Zalea’s Story is a visually stunning book that will delight nature enthusiasts of all ages. The book’s layout is well-organized, allowing for easy navigation and comprehension. It is evident that great care has been taken to make this book an immersive and enjoyable reading experience.

As a reader, I was captivated by the beautiful illustrations and the wealth of information presented in an engaging manner. This book is not only suitable for middle-grade readers but also serves as an excellent gift for anyone with an interest in nature and wildlife conservation.

In conclusion, Saving the Spotted Owl: Zalea’s Story is a masterful blend of storytelling and education. Nicola Jones’s ability to present complex scientific concepts in an accessible way, combined with Alexandra Finkeldey’s breathtaking illustrations, creates a book that is both visually stunning and intellectually stimulating. This book serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of wildlife conservation and the inspiring work being done by dedicated scientists. Whether you are a nature enthusiast or an educator looking to inspire young minds, this book is an absolute must-read.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

Saving The Spotted Owl is an excellent, well rounded guidebook for youth to learn about owls and conservation efforts! Mixing digestible information into a narrative of one owl's family life cycle. It's a solid intro to both the science and lives of owls, as well as a glimpse into conservation efforts in Canada.

The art: breathtaking illustrations! The art us creative and portrays all sorts of animals and scenes in a charming, fun way and incorporates information into accessible graphics to aid learning.

I love that they mentioned First Nations peoples and how they helped with releasing the fostered owls back into the wild. However I do wish there was more information on that than just a mention, because Indigenous peoples of Canada have so much valuable knowledge and play a massive part in protecting the Earth. Youth should be learning about Indigenous knowledge alongside the biologists and conservationists in books like these.

Overall, this book is a very sweet and hopeful read and I recommend for any young person interested in wildlife!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this fascinating book. I enjoyed this look into how spotted owls are rescued and rehabilitated. The text was a little dense and could have been benefited by some smaller paragraphs to make it more readable for kids. Overall, fascinating topic with lots of inquiry potential!

4.5/5 stars

Beautiful picture book about a program in British Columbia called the Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Centre that takes in spotted owls and tried to rehabilitate them for going back in the wild. Because Spotted Owls are endangered, the groups is always watching out for them, and when they spot one that has fallen out of a tree, and the parents can’t get it back, they take it in, and name it Zalea.

The picture book tells about how they rehabilitated her, and how she was eventually released in the wild as an adult.

The book also mentions other programs that have helped animals in the wild, who are endangered, such as the California Condor, which was down to something like five, which were brought in, and bred in captivity so they could be released again. They also mentioned the Hawaiian Crow which no longer lives in the wild, and they have not been successful brining it back into the wild. 🙁

Wonderful book to introduce children to what an endangered animal is, and what is being done to help them.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published on the 3rd of October 2023.

This was a really cute and informational book about Spotted Owls, endangered species, and even talked about different types of scientists. I think it will be good for kids to listen to it to know these things and hear about many types of scientists early. I would’ve loved this books as a kid.

This will be a perfect addition to my environmental activism unit. It would be a great nonfiction pairing for Jean Craighead George’s There’s an Owl in the Shower.

I loved this book, and feel like it is perfect for ages 7-12 (5-12 for some kids). It was well written, informative, and interesting!

ARC was given by NetGalley & Kids Can Press.
Release Date: October 3, 2023


Ah, I love reading books about owls. They're probably one of my favorite animals I've worked with as well as loving them as a whole! If you're looking for fast paced, educational read about animals facing extinction, this is a great book to pick up. Even more so if you have kids who love animals or kids who want to go into a career working with animals. There's a lot of information surrounding spotted owls, but there's also a lot of talk about conservation efforts that were made towards other creatures like the California Condor and the Hawaiian Crow. The pictures in this book are stunning and later on in the book we'll see photos of the actual owls, and workers talked about in this book. Overall, I think this is a great book to sit down and cleanse your reading pallet with. As well as a great book to read with your kid/s (if you have kids) and get them excited about wildlife.



All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.

I really enjoyed Saving the Spotted Owl! The illustrations are gorgeous and bring to life the interesting story of a team of researchers who find, rescue, and raise a northern spotted owlet they name Zalea. This book tells specifically about Zalea as well as the broader topics of owls, endangered animals, and the efforts that are being made to create a robust wild population. The back matter includes a glossary, index, and photos of Zalea and two of her chicks! I think this would be an awesome addition to our library, as well as great for home and school collections.

#SavingtheSpottedOwl #NetGalley

This book is a wonderful informational story of the endangered spotted owl, Zalea, and how caretakers helped her thrive. This book discussed important topics such as endangered species and how people can help them, in a positive and hopeful tone. I would recommend this book for kids in 3rd grade and up.

This book does a great job of including informative graphs, charts, maps, and photos to help kids learn about the owls and other species that are endangered and extinct. I also love the adorable illustrations that help show Zalea's journey.

I am just amazed and I do believe this book is for older kids rather than for the very young ones as the writing/narrative has sentences/expressions which will be understood by older children. The research done and the information given is awesome. It’s done extensively with beautiful, colourful illustrations. This book is more of a science book which will be beneficial for young middle graders rather than considering it as a picture or story book.

Thank you, Kids Can Press, for the advance reading copy.

Saving the Spotted Owl is the true story of Zalea, a spotted owl from Canada who fell from a tree when she was a baby and got hurt. Since she is a spotted owl, there were biologists watching her family, They took Zalea to a safe place so she could grow up safe and healthy.

This book is full of information, about Zalea and spotted owls in general, which are a threatened species. The book talks about the conservation efforts for these beautiful animals, their lifecycle, and their natural habitat. It also talks about the efforts being made to save the species, which is very inspiring. The illustrations in this book are gorgeous. Great book for classrooms, schools, and libraries!

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this advanced review copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review on the book!