Who Gives a Hoot?

Gr 3–5—Calpurnia Tate, girl vet, embarks on another animal adventure in the third book of the series. While rowing down the San Marcos River, Callie and Grandaddy experience all kinds of things: plants, animals, and fossils to name a few. But never did they expect a barn owl to fall from the sky and into the river next to their boat! Reacting quickly, Callie uses a butterfly net to rescue the bird from the water. Unsure of what could have caused an owl to fall from the sky, Callie and Grandfather decide to take it home for observation. Will Callie and Granddaddy be able to nurse the owl back to health and discover its ailment? The merit of this series lies in its ability to easily introduce young readers to scientific terminology and the importance of respecting nature. Though she is taking care of the wounded bird, Callie does not treat the owl as a pet. This message is explored further when it is discovered that the owl's illness stems from human interference.