It's International Owl Day! Though I love almost all of nature, I have long had a special connection with owls. 
I wrote Whooo Knew? The Truth About Owls as a question-and-answer book. The publisher, Reycraft Books, designed it with photographs and illustrations!
I've had great feedback from families, teachers, and librarians. With younger kids, they read just a page or two at a time. Older kids--even children who know a lot about owls--read Whooo Knew time and time again.
Take a look at this page spread. Folks, that is not a tongue!
This owl book features tons of science and even includes a bone chart for an owl pellet dissection. If you have never facilitated an owl pellet dissection (as a parent or educator or curious person), I hope you will. Owl pellets are not very messy and even young children can explore them.
Owls swallow their dinner whole--and alive. They don't take the time to remove fur and bones with a fork and knife, but their bodies can't digest those items. So the fur (or feathers) and bones form into a tight, small pellet. Then the owl coughs it out to make room for its next meal.
Each owl pellet is a like a new treasure and puzzle. By scraping off the fur or feathers, you're left with lots of tiny bones. Using a chart such as this one from Carolina Biological Supply or the one in the book helps scientists identify what might have been the owl's meal! Some young scientists even like to assemble the bones like a skeleton! 
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I have more suggestions for owl STEM activities, crafts, and books for you! Be sure to check out that blog post for more ideas beyond owl pellets!
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