Book of the Month January 2019 - Not Again, Little Owl

Not Again, Little Owl by Vivien Norris

Not Again, Little Owl is a therapeutic story book specially written for children moving from short term foster care to a permanent placement, whether adoption or foster care.

The writer, Vivien Norris, is a clinical psychologist, music therapist and DDP practitioner who has many years of experience of therapeutic work with families and adoption.

She wrote the book because she found that the transition to adoption books available tended to have an adult agenda and focus only on the positives. She saw the need for a story which would acknowledge the child’s distress and help the adults to see and engage with it.
 
The book tells the story of Little Owl who is living with his Mummy, who doesn’t look after him properly. Rabbit decides this is not good enough and takes him to his Granny who can’t keep up with his energy. Fox and Hedgehog can’t manage to look after him either, but then Rabbit takes him to stay with Badger who understands his fears and helps work out his “muddles”. When Rabbit arrives again to take him to say with Squirrel who will look after him forever, Little Owl is upset and wary. However, Rabbit, Squirrel and Badger work together to help him move and at last Little Owl can begin to settle into his new home.
 
The book is nicely illustrated using children’s drawings and offers opportunities for conversations about the realities of the multiple transitions that children can experience before moving to an adoptive family.  While the sadness and loss associated with these moves is acknowledged in the story, there is also hope and understanding. This book would be an invaluable tool for social workers, foster carers and adopters who need to open up discussions with children about moves in a sensitive and non-threatening way.
 
Jane Steele
Trainer/Consultant
Adoption and Fostering Alliance (AFA) Scotland 
The Adoption and Fostering Alliance (AFA) Scotland is an independent, charitable organisation dedicated to Not Again, Little Owlimproving outcomes for children in care by providing support to all those working in the field of adoption, fostering and the care of looked after children.

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