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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSA girl has thought and dreamed about owls for as long as she can remember, but she has never seen one. Her teacher this year, Mr. Koji, is a birder, and he teaches the class to look extra carefully and listen very carefully. The girl starts an owl journal and goes birding with her mother, Mama, and she is serious about it. They search the woods at sunrise, at dusk, and even at night.
Free Battle of the Books questions for To See an Owl
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about To See an Owl. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a teacher share a map he made as a boy?
✓ Answer
To See an Owl by Matthew Cordell
Mr. Koji was a birder even when he was the girl's age, and he made this map when he was a boy, with the locations of birds he saw. Later, the girl shares her own map of the woods, a map that's like his.
- First half
In what book does a young birder organize facts and findings in a journal?
✓ Answer
To See an Owl by Matthew Cordell
The girl starts an owl journal "to organize facts and findings" after Mr. Koji's lesson. One page reminds her, "LOOK FOR WHITEWASH ON GROUND, BRANCHES, LEAVES."
- First half
In what book does a birding lesson say you must be quiet and patient?
✓ Answer
To See an Owl by Matthew Cordell
Mr. Koji's lesson on listening for owl calls ends with "You must be quiet. You must be patient." Sometimes, the book says, you have to wait a long time to hear an owl.
- Second half
In what book does a girl even hear coyotes in the woods at night?
✓ Answer
To See an Owl by Matthew Cordell
Janie goes into the woods at night to listen for owls calling. She hears the deer and raccoons come out to eat, and "I even hear coyotes," but she hears no owls.
- Second half
In what book does a girl bring stacks and stacks of drawings to school?
✓ Answer
To See an Owl by Matthew Cordell
When the class is asked to bring "something personal to share," Janie brings "my stacks and stacks of owl drawings," plus her owl journal and her map of the woods.
- Near the end
In what book does Mama not want to go out in a new snow?
✓ Answer
To See an Owl by Matthew Cordell
When Janie gets home from school, "A new snow is falling. Mama really doesn't want to go out." But Janie says, "But I have to know," and soon the two of them are walking across a snowy field toward the pine trees.
