The Howlat was a young owl, with dowdy, fluffy feathers and a hooked beak. He blamed Nature for his ugliness and appealed to the other birds for help. They took pity on poor Howlat; but as soon as they had decked him out in finery, he became impossibly conceited – which is when they flew off and left him alone in the night. This ancient Scottish fable is retold by James Robertson with magnificent illustrations by Kate Leiper.
Originally written in the 1440s by Richard Holland, a Scottish cleric who was chaplain to Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray, The Book of the Howlat is one of the great poetic gems of fifteenth-century Scots. Believing himself to be ugly, a young owl (howlat) decides to speak to the most handsome bird of all, the peacock, and ask his help so that Nature can change him. But the peacock isn't sure this should be done - after all, Nature doesn't usually make mistakes - and summons a council of birds to make a decision. A huge feast takes place, and Nature herself appears and orders all the birds present to give the owl one of their feathers. But the result is not what they expect. The howlat's initial joy turns to unbearable arrogance at his new-found beauty, and drastic action must be taken ...
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https://www.psbooks.co.uk/book-of-the-howlat-2509623The Book of the Howlathttps://www.psbooks.co.uk/media/catalog/product/5/0/509623_c7f5eb3ae31e1d5c9692e2b40355aa13.jpg4.994.99GBPInStock/Children's & Education/Categories/Shop by Age/6-8 years/Children's & Education/Categories/Shop by Age/Children's & Education<span style="color: rgb(38, 38, 38); font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The Howlat was a young owl, with dowdy, fluffy feathers and a hooked beak. He blamed Nature for his ugliness and appealed to the other birds for help. They took pity on poor Howlat; but as soon as they had decked him out in finery, he became impossibly conceited – which is when they flew off and left him alone in the night. This ancient Scottish fable is retold by James Robertson with magnificent illustrations by Kate Leiper.</span>Paperback00add-to-cartrrp_info:£6.99productId:46819bic_code:YDYD£6.99James RobertsonGeneral276x214mmBirlinn6-8 years6-8 yearsNoPaperback