Orris and Timble: Lost and Found

"A lovely exploration of how much listening matters . . ."

The second book in a planned trilogy, Orris and Timble: Lost and Found continues the story of a sweet friendship between a rat and an owl. The short chapters are richly illustrated, making the series a perfect transition from picture book to chapter book.

Normally an owl would consider a rat to be dinner, but Timble is a young owl who enjoys the company of Orris, an old rat who lives in a barn. The barn houses many old books, and Orris is a voracious reader. He shares these stories with Timble in a nightly ritual. In one story a princess leaves home but always returns. Timble makes the same promise to Orris.

"By the light of the stars, by the light of the moon, I will always return."

Orris counts on that. Without Timble, his days are long and lonely, with only a can of sardines for company. But one day Timble doesn't come back. At first Orris is worried. Then he's angry, sure that the young bird has found more interesting friends and adventures. As he tells the sardine tin:

"Well, I'm done with good and noble choices," said Orris. I'm also done with hoping and waiting. For the love of Pete, owls and rats aren't supposed to be friends!"

But this owl and this rat are very much meant to be friends. Timble finally returns in a flurry of feathers, but Orris is too mad to see him. Timble understands how hurt Orris must be and explains that he was lost. He wanted to come, but didn't know how to get home. He is, after all, a young owl and not as experienced as old Orris in how the world works.

The two are once again the best of friends.

"The owl listens to the rat and the rat listens to the owl, by the light of the stars, by the light of the moon."

Being a friend isn't always easy, but it's always worth it, as both owl and rat discover. This book is a lovely exploration of how much listening matters, something grownups need to know as much as young people do.