Playful, heartwarming, and delightfully quirky.
A young screech owl with a taste for sweet potatoes instead of bugs takes flight in Chapman’s affectionate tale about carving out one’s own identity. Sweet Potato doesn’t have much interest in typical owl pursuits. While her brothers eagerly gobble insects and spend their days asleep, she’s far more interested in daytime adventures and visits with Uncle Grumpy, a kindly iguana who understands her independent streak.
Chapman builds the story around the appealing tension between individuality and belonging, creating a heroine whose stubbornness feels both authentic and amusing. Sweet Potato’s refusal to conform gives the narrative its spark, while her interactions with Grumpy add warmth and emotional depth. Rather than positioning difference as a problem to be solved, the story treats it as a natural part of growing up, allowing young readers to recognize their own quirks in its feathered heroine. Natalia Loseva’s inviting illustrations lend the book a gentle energy, pairing expressive animal characters with bright, approachable scenes that support the text’s playful tone. The result is a reassuring read-aloud that acknowledges childhood independence while underscoring the importance of trusted relationships.
Sweet, spunky, and impossible not to love.
***
Gourmet Dog LLC
Pub date March 23, 2022
ISBN 978-1736805640
Print length 46 pages
Ages 3-8 years
Price $21.99 (USD) Hardcover, $10.99 Paperback, $3.99 Kindle edition, $0.00 Kindle unlimited
