Here are lots of fun suggestions for creating different owl book character costumes.
With World Book Day around the corner, I thought it'd be helpful to write a series of blogs full of ideas for creating book character costumes.
Each blog will include a synopsis of some of my favourite books and step-by-step guide to making storybook props to accompany each of the stories. Children can help make the props which gives them ownership of their character creation too!
I'll also introduce you to my collection of dressing up costumes. They make the perfect instant outfit - just add one of the props to transform the costumes into the specific book characters and away you go!
Today, we'll look at OWL book character costume ideas.
Who will you become?!
Owl Babies written by Martin Waddell & illustrated by Patrick Benson
'But their Owl Mother didn't come. The baby owls came out of their house and they sat on the tree and waited.
A big branch for Sarah, a small branch for Percy, and an old bit of ivy for Bill.
"She'll be back," said Sarah.
"Back soon!" said Percy.
"I want my mummy!" said Bill.'
Owl Babies is a beautifully reassuring and gorgeously illustrated book dealing with the anxieties of temporary separation.
It tells the story of 3 owlets, Sarah Percy and Bill, who wake up one night to discover their mother has gone. They feel frightened and vulnerable without her.
As they anxiously wait, the baby owls talk to each other about their worried thoughts and feelings.
These anxieties, however, prove unfounded when their mother finally returns safely. They jump up and down on their branch in celebration of her return - a joyful end to a wonderful classic.
Owl Babies Book Characters Props
Let’s make name badges for the baby owls, Sarah, Percy and Bill, and a cardboard ivy garland for Bill, saying, 'I want my mummy!'
SARAH, PERCY & BILL NAME BADGES BILL'S CARDBOARD IVY 'I WANT MY MUMMY!' GARLAND
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark written by Jill Tomlinson & illustrated by Paul Howard
"Hello!" said Plop. "What's that you've got there?"
"A telescope," said the man. "For looking at the stars and planets at night."
"I don't like the dark very much," said Plop.
"Really?" said the man. "But DARK IS WONDERFUL. I'll show you!"
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark is a beautiful, comforting and heart-warming story.
Its theme is one of moving beyond our comfort zones and overcoming fears which we experience through the eyes of Plop, the baby barn owl.
Plop is like every other little barn owl apart from one fact – he is frightened of the dark. His mother encourages him to find out about the dark by speaking to others.
The story is divided into 7 chapters, where Plop learns something new about the dark.
He meets a little boy who is excited for the fireworks to begin, an old lady who says the dark helps her remember fond memories, a scout sitting around a campfire, a little girl who tells him about Father Christmas, a man with a telescope who watches the stars and planets and a black cat who takes him nighttime exploring.
Through these encounters, Plop is persuaded that the dark is wonderful.
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark Book Character Props
Plop, the baby owl, meets a man with a telescope who looks at the stars and planets at night. The man shows Plop how wonderful the night sky is. Let’s imagine the stars and planets which Plop sees through the telescope with this paper plate stars and planets wreath.
STARS & PLANETS PAPER PLATE WREATH
The House at Pooh Corner written by A.A. Milne & illustrated by E.H. Shepard
'"And what about the new house?" asked Pooh. "Have you found it, Owl?"
"He's found a name for it," said Christopher Robin, lazily nibbling at a piece of grass, "so now all he wants is the house."
"I'm calling it this," said Owl importantly and he showed them what he had been making. It was a square piece of board with the name of the house painted on it:
ThE WOLERY
The collection of stories and poems of Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne probably needs very little introduction!
These wonderful children’s classics and poetry have been delighting young and old alike for almost 100 years.
The character, Christopher Robin, was named after the writer’s own son and the various animal characters, including Winnie-the-Pooh, were inspired by his young son’s soft toys.
Full of warmth, humour and wonderful silliness, the books also have lovely words of wisdom about friendship and kindness.
I adore the original, simple and iconic drawings of EH Shepard which have a beautiful childhood innocence about them.
The House at Pooh Corner Book Character Props
Let’s make a name badge for Winnie-the-Pooh’s friend, Owl, and a sign for owl’s house in 100 Aker Wood, called, ‘ThE WOLERY’!
'WOL' NAME BADGE 'ThE WOLERY' CARDBOARD HOUSE SIGN
Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise written by Sean Taylor & illustrated by Jean Jullien
'And look there ... a mouth-watering pizza!
My eyes glitter like sardines because I am sure that pizza will be mine.
Everyone knows that owls are wise. But as well as being wise,
I am a master of disguise.
I devise a costume.
Look - I disguise myself as ...'
Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise is a story about an owl who is not only wise (as all owls are!) but is also a genius at creating costumes with which to disguise himself when stalking prey.
His unsuspecting prey are, however, less convinced by these ingenious disguises and keep escaping.
Undeterred, Hoot Owl perseveres until he finds a he finds a delicious prey (in the form of a pizza) costume change which finally works ...!
Wonderfully comical and inventive with brilliantly silly humour and fantastic illustrations to match.
Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise Book Character Props
Let’s make Hoot Owl’s final costume disguise and a mouth-watering pizza!
PAPER PLATE PIZZA WAITER/CHEF'S PAPER HAT
The Gruffalo written by Julia Donaldson & illustrated by Axel Scheffler
'"Where are you meeting him?"
"Here, by this stream, And his favourite food is owl ice cream."
"Owl ice cream? Toowhit toowhoo!
Goodbye, little mouse," and away Owl flew.'
The Gruffalo is the magical and oh-so-cleverly-written rhyming tale of a little mouse who goes on a walk through the woods in search of a tasty nut.
On his journey he encounters 3 predators - a fox, owl and snake - who wish to eat him.
Needing all his wits about him to outsmart them, the mouse deceives each one by announcing he's meeting a frightening monster called a 'gruffalo'.
Not only that, but also that each predator is the gruffalo's favourite food. On hearing this, they flee.
After having escaped the last predator, the little mouse is then shocked to encounter a real Gruffalo - which the mouse thought they had invented!
Brilliantly written with gorgeously detail-rich illustrations, The Gruffalo is an absolute classic.
The Gruffalo Book Character Props
Let’s make The Gruffalo’s favourite food!
Toowhit Toowhoo!
OWL ICE CREAM SHOP OWL DRESSING UP COSTUME
Hope you enjoy making these different owl book character costumes.!
For more on the magic of dressing up play and animal characters, have a look at my blogs about imaginative play, storytelling and animals in children's books.
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