Learning about the Northern Spotted Owl in Nicola Jones’ new narrative non fiction book Saving the Spotted Owl: Zalea’s Story illustrated by Alexandra Finkeldey.

One day, Zalea, a Northern Spotted Owl chick fell from her nest. Luckily, research biologists were nearby. They saved her and brought her to the Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Centre in Langley, British Columbia. There Zalea has thrived and even become a mother herself as part of the breeding program that aims to reintirduce the Northern Spotted Owl, one of Canada’s most endangered species, back into the wild.

I love how Nicola Jones shares Zalea’s story with readers. We get to follow her along as she lives and thrives at the breeding centre while also learning a ton of information about how the program works and what scientists are doing to help save this important native species. Also, throughout the book, readers get to learn about other animals who are threatened all over the world.

Through the focus on the Northern Spotted Owl, readers also learn more about why this species is threatened, habitat loss, and the reasons behind why it is so hard for them to thrive in the wild. I also appreciated the connections that Nicola Jones was sure to point out about the land in Britsh Columbia and the Indigenous people whose traditional and unceded territory it is. I love the connections and the partnership that readers learn about through Zalea’s story.

Alexandra Finkeldey’s illustrations are so rich. Although rendered digitally, the illustrations feel like oil paintings with obvious brushstrokes and very deep and rich colours reminiscent of the land. I appreciated how closely the illustrations matched the subject matter so readers are truly able to have an accurate picture of the Northern Spotted Owl.