An owl, a talent, and a secret

When Belle's class draws owls, Ms. Rio holds up Belle's drawing and exclaims, "How did Belle make his eyes so wise?" Belle knows why her owl almost looks alive, but she doesn't want to tell. 

The school bus passes the houses and apartment buildings of all the other kids, and Belle climbs into a blue car with her mom - the car where they live. They sleep each night in a shady park, snuggled under blankets in the car, serenaded by the hoots of an owl. Night after night Belle wishes she could see the owl - Mom says they are lucky to have an owl nearby, keeping an eye on them. Finally one night, the owl appears on a branch, big and wild and almost near enough to touch. 

Belle doesn't think she'll ever share her secret, until one day a new kid arrives a school, in an old blue car that looks like Belle's car, piled high with luggage. Belle takes his hand and shows him around, silently telling him that she will keep an eye on him, just like the owl. 

This beautifully illustrated story of an unhoused child is both heart-wrenching and heartwarming

I Know How to Draw an Owl is the winner of the 2025 Charlotte Zolotow Award.