Uhu by Annette Macarthur-Onslow - 1969 First Edition Child Book - Vintage Book, Children's Nature Book, Tawny Owls, Rescue Animals

1969 first edition of Uhu by Annette Macarthur-Onslow, winner of the 1970 Book of the Year Award of the Children's Book Council.

Written and illustrated by Annette Macarthur-Onslow. 1969 stated first edition. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

FOREWORD

"The story of Uhu (pronounced yoo-hoo) was brief but devastating. He came and went, between May and September, like a feather on a puff of wind...upsetting our whole existence, grubbying the furniture, rearranging the house, and temporarily banishing the cat (unlike the characters in the song, our owl and pussycat did not agree).

He had no one to show him how an owl should behave, and therefore his antics, though sometimes funny and touching, were always full of purpose.

He taught us that, contrary to common belief, owls are not all fierce, impersonal, predatory creatures; they like company, like having their heads scratched, and chirrup with pleasure when their ears are tickled. It was a shortage of information about keeping tame owls that prompted me to write this little book. Had I known what I know now..."

You'll have fallen in love with Uhu after the first few pages of this lovingly told, beautifully illustrated story. Sadly, despite best efforts, including what we can only imagine were significant vet bills, even in 1969, Uhu doesn't survive his well-intended captivity. The author shares her experience as a lesson learned in caring for wild creatures.

Uhu was the first of three children's books by Australian artist Annette Macarthur-Onslow (1933 - ), followed by Minnie (1971) and The Giant Bamboo Happening (1982). Uhu received the 1970 Book of the Year Award from Australia's Children's Book Council, and the 1971 Diplome d' Honneur at the prestigious Biennale d'Illustrations de Bratislava (BIB). She also illustrated The Man From Snowy River and many other books and literary projects.

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Condition*: Good/Good. Dust jacket: Price clipped; moisture stain along the bottom, visible from inside; two small closed tears on front corner and tail of spine; creased at front right corner. Red cloth cover: Slight discoloration from moisture coming through jacket at front right corner; slight sunning along the top. Inside: Mild tanning on front and back flyleafs; moisture stain on left corner of pastedown; small amount of smudging on dedication page.