- Graphic Novels
- Ages 5–8
- Animals
Owly: Flying Lessons
Book 3 of 5 in OwlyView the full series
A reassuring Owly story about fear, bravery and helping a friend, centred on flying lessons and a shy new flying-squirrel character. It is particularly useful for children who worry about trying things they find scary.
- Best for5–8
- FormatGraphic
- Length144 pp
- Read aloud~1 hr10 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Repetitive
Tone
- Gentle
- Warm
- Heartwarming
- Cosy
- Inspirational
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Owly and Wormy love making new friends, so when they spot an unfamiliar animal flying through the trees, they are excited to meet her. Shadow the flying squirrel is nervous, and Owly has fears of his own, especially when Wormy ends up stuck high in a tree and Owly has to face the idea of flying. This third Owly book gently explores bravery without ever becoming frightening or preachy. Its emotional pattern is very clear for young children: wanting to help, feeling scared, trying anyway, and discovering that courage can grow through friendship. The near-wordless comic format makes the story accessible to early and reluctant readers, while the expressions and visual symbols help children practise reading feelings as well as panels. It is an especially strong match for anxious readers who enjoy animal stories with low peril, soft humour and a deeply kind worldview.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 5–8
- Read aloud · 4–8
- Independent · 5–8
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Works well for
- Bedtime
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
5 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Gentle graphic novel
- Early graphic novel
- Bravery story
- Anxious readers
- Wordless comics
Avoid if
- Wants high energy action
- Wants text heavy story
- Prefers joke per page comics
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Struggling with reading
- Anxiety and worry
- Low self esteem
- Nightmares or fears
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A gentle, near-wordless comic series about kindness and friendship — accessible for new readers and lovely for inferring feelings and talking about empathy.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific weight is being scared to try — Owly afraid to fly, shy new friend Shadow the flying squirrel just as scared, Wormy stuck high in a tree forcing the moment. The Owly for an anxious reader who needs to see a hero do the scary thing too.
- Animal companions
- Surviving danger
- Friendship and belonging
- Transformation
Why parents love it
The Owly on facing fear — Owly's flying anxiety made the actual plot, the rescue forcing courage. Useful for any small child who's worried about trying something new. Same near-wordless gentleness.
- Bedtime appropriate
- Quick to read
- Conversation starter
- Indie gem discovery
In the series
Owly.
5 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Andy Runton.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
- Bookshop.org ↗
- Waterstones ↗
- Amazon UK ↗
- Hive ↗
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