Free Bird by Christine Mott & Ofra Layla Isler

subtitled Flaco The Owl’s Dreams Take Flight.

I cannot be the only person who keeps confusing Flaco the owl with the red tailed hawks who also famously made New York City their home. Fortunately, this picture book helps clear up any misunderstanding caused by the unwittingly cognate names!

Told in the first person, this anthropomorphized tale leads us from Flaco’s early life in the Central Park Zoo, where he stares at the walls of his enclosure and dreams of living a life wild and free. One day, a sparrow points out the hole in Flaco’s cage and invites him to come join the other birds (lol) in the outdoors. Flaco is hesitant since he’s never lived out of captivity. But he has a dream and he’s determined to pursue it, even if he doesn’t really know how to fly or hunt or survive on his own.

With the encouragement of other animals (lol. Look, I’m sorry, as someone who knows full well what owls actually eat, it’s impossible not to laugh at the idea that the small animals depicted in the book would cheer him on instead of immediately running for cover at the sight of him,) Flaco learns how to make his way in the outdoors. Tho his concerned minders from the zoo set out traps to try to recapture him, he manages to evade them all and take full advantage of the sights of New York City, living out his dream of freedom and inspiring others to realize their ambitions as well.

Free Bird is a cute book that takes an interesting anecdote from recent history and turns it into a motivating story for children, especially those who love animals. It’s also very much a book about New York City, so will appeal to fans of that metropolis too. It is definitely more fantasy than science, with a strong (and not unjustified) anti-zoo bent, but younger readers likely won’t notice or care. I did really appreciate the Fun Facts About Owls section in the back that answered a number of questions I had while reading the story, such as what kind of owl Flaco was. Yes, “was”: Flaco’s death in 2024 is alluded to in what I assume was meant to be a subtle way, just in case young readers and their parents aren’t yet ready to broach the topic.

Ofra Layla Isler’s illustrations blend naturalism with expressiveness, with the occasional touch of whimsy to boot. I especially enjoyed those last bits, particularly in the spot art showcasing Flaco interacting with NYC landmarks. But probably my favorite aspect of this book is the fact that half of the proceeds will go to The Wild Bird Fund, a nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation and education center in NYC. While a bit fluffy for me, personally, there’s no denying that this is a sweet book written for a good cause.

Free Bird by Christine Mott & Ofra Layla Isler was published May 6 2025 by Lantern Publishing & Media and is available from all good booksellers, including