OWLS MAKE TERRIBLE TEACHERS by Kristi Mahoney

- Review by Kelly Carey

Owls Make Terrible Teachers (Gnome Road, 2026), the hilarious follow up to Alpacas Make Terrible Librarians (Gnome Road, 2024) by Kristi Mahoney, features an owl substitute teacher and pellet flying classroom mayhem. Good thing parents packed pajamas because this nocturnal teacher starts class at night and the lessons are anything but normal. Quill pens, talons on chalkboards, and 270-degree head turns keep the students off-balance and the laughs flowing. Little readers will find plenty of owl facts amidst the big, bold pictures. Filled with humor, and a sweet longing for their regular teacher, this high energy book is a perfect read-aloud for any teacher to share – owl or human! 

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On Writing:
With a nod to graphic novel styling, Kristi employs a host of one-word sentences to accomplish huge tasks in her storytelling. 

Emotional Roadmap
With “Fun!”, “Yippee!”, and “Hooray!”, Kristi uses a single word to capture mood. All three evoke an emotional response linking the reader to the happenings on the page. These quick interjections invite the reader to celebrate along with the characters. 

Comic Set-Up
Onomatopoeias like “Splat!”, “Plop!”, and “Uh-oh!” act like a match lighting the laughter fuse for an illustration explosion. By trusting the illustrator to carry the humor, these single word sentences create the synergy between text and picture that are the hallmark of picture book magic. 
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Tension Pivot Point
Finally, Kristi uses “Awkward”, “Beware!”, and “Quick!” to succinctly create tension. These moments mark turning points in the action and help regulate the pacing. "Awkward" produces a snarky giggle moment, while "Beware" and "Quick" spike the tension. 
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Use this picture book to study the art of single word sentences to capture mood, offer an emotional pivot point, and create humor. 

And those single word sentences are kind to your word count. Bonus! 

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To find out more about Kristi, visit her at ​kristimahoneybooks.com.
To learn more about illustrators Chantelle and Burgen Thorne go chantelleandburgen.com.