Ollie’s Big Problem
High in the branches of a grand oak tree lived a little owl named Ollie. He had soft brown feathers, wide golden eyes, and the fluffiest wings in the whole forest.
But poor Ollie had a problem. He couldn’t hoot.
Every night, when the other owls called, “Hoo-hoo! Hoo-hoo!” Ollie tried to join in, but instead, a funny squeak came out: “Eeeek!” The owls tilted their heads in confusion.
“Try again, Ollie,” said his mother kindly. This time, Ollie puffed out his chest and gave it all he had. “Mooooo!” The other owls blinked.
“That’s a cow sound,” one whispered. Ollie drooped. He just wanted to sound like an owl.
Practicing with Friends
The next morning, Ollie decided to practice with his forest friends. First, he went to see Ruby the Robin. “Ruby, can you help me hoot?” he asked. “Of course!” Ruby chirped. She sang her sweet song: “Cheer-up, cheer-up, cheerily!”
Ollie tried to copy. “Cheer-up, cheeeer-UP!” But instead of hooting, he sounded like a squeaky toy. Ruby giggled. “Lovely try, Ollie, but that’s not quite it.”
Next, Ollie waddled over to the pond where Freddy the Frog sat on a lily pad. “Freddy, can you help me hoot?” “Ribbit!” said Freddy. “Try this.” Ollie puffed his feathers and croaked, “Riiiibit!” Freddy clapped his webbed hands. “Excellent frog voice! But… not an owl hoot.”
Feeling a little gloomy, Ollie shuffled into the meadow, where Daisy the Sheep was grazing. “Daisy, can you help me hoot?” “Baaaaa,” Daisy bleated. Ollie tried. “Baaaaaaah!” Daisy smiled. “Wonderful sheep impression, Ollie! But maybe you’re not meant to sound like me.” Ollie sighed. “I’ll never hoot like a real owl.”
Listening to the Forest
That night, Ollie sat alone on his branch. The forest was quiet, silvered by the moonlight. He closed his eyes and listened.
He could hear the whisper of the wind through the leaves.
He listened to the trickle of the stream below.
He heard the distant chorus of his owl family calling: “Hoo-hoo… hoo-hoo…”
Finding His Hoot
Something stirred in his chest. Ollie took a deep breath, let the night sounds guide him, and gently opened his beak.
“Hoo… hoo…”
His golden eyes widened. He had done it! “Again!” he whispered to himself.
“Hoo-hoo! Hoo-hoo!”
The sound was clear, round, and true—just like an owl.
Proud to Be Ollie
His family swooped over, their wings glowing in the moonlight. “You did it, Ollie!” his mother cried. “You’ve found your hoot!” cheered the others.
Ollie beamed. “I thought I had to sound like someone else, but all along I just needed to listen… and let my own voice out.”
From then on, whenever the owls called in the night, Ollie joined proudly, his “Hoo-hoo!” echoing through the forest. And every once in a while, just for fun, he’d squeak like a toy, croak like a frog, or baa like a sheep—because sometimes it’s fun to be a little different, too.
The End.
To explore the building blocks of your child’s self-esteem, read this HealthyChildren.org article — or browse our cuddly Bedtime Companions to bring extra comfort at night.
