• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: p to 2

From the author of the beloved This Is Sadie comes a delightful book of curious, little-known stories about animals -- one for each letter of the alphabet!

Did you know that chipmunks love to stay up past their bedtime? Or that dragons cry at happy endings? I bet you'd never have guessed that iguanas sometimes get homesick at sleepovers.

Sara O'Leary pulls back the curtain on the animal world and gives us absolutely charming little one-line "facts" about an animal for each letter of the alphabet. Kids will love to see their own quirks reflected in these adorably-rendered creatures, and perhaps will be comforted to know that, just like them, narwhals can be perfectly happy all on their own and quail also get tired of being told to be quiet.

This is more than just an alphabet book -- it is a charming, hilarious and touching look at the diversity of personalities in the world, worth many, many re-reads.

Sara O'Leary est auteure de livres pour adultes et pour enfants. Parmi ses oeuvres les plus connues, la série à succès Henry et les albums This is Sadie, illustré par Julie Morstad et You Are One, illustré par Karen Klassen. Diplômée du programme de création littéraire de l'Université de la Colombie-Britannique, elle a enseigné la scénarisation et l'écriture pour enfants à l'Université Concordia.

Sara O'Leary is a writer of fiction for both adults and children. She is the author of the award-winning series of Henry books and This Is Sadie, illustrated by Julie Morstad, and You Are One, illustrated by Karen Klassen. A graduate of the UBC Creative Writing Program, she has taught screenwriting and writing for children at Concordia University in Montreal.

Sara O'Leary's profile page

One of CCBC’S Best Books for Kids & Teens (Spring 2019)
PRAISE FOR Owls are Good at Keeping Secrets:
“Animals, who are hiding behind each letter of the alphabet, are revealed as we explore the book.
They, the key characters and true focus of the journey, have attributes that most children will recognize.” --Starred Review, Booklist
“The light sprinkle of visual and verbal humor keeps the book's truisms from feeling stale . . . Don't let the owls keep this unusual book secret. It deserves to be shared.” --Kirkus Reviews

“Sara O’Leary imbues animals with human characteristics in her new abecedarian . . . Jacob Grant excels at stirring up genuine feeling.” --Quill & Quire

"[A] whimsical alphabet book featuring animals with a message of self-acceptance.” --CBC Montreal

“[A] refreshing bit of imagination to our observations on the animal kingdom. Children will be able to see themselves in one or more of the animals and find validation for their own quirky personalities.” --CM Magazine

“O’Leary’s ‘facts’ teeter slyly between fantasy, fact and joke. . . . Nicely surprising.” --Toronto Star

“[A] sweet and silly alphabet book. . . . [Readers] will happily play along with O’Leary’s funny fibs.” --Publishers Weekly
"This book is a fun addition to the growing selection of alphabet books with animals not normally used, all the while doing activities that you may not have known they did." --Resource Links