What if we kept the momentum going?
Resource: Using Owl Babies by Martin Waddell to Build Well-Being Through Character Strengths
Last month, many of us explored how Swimmy could spark conversations about character strengths and how something as simple as a read-aloud could shift a classroom. Students leaned in, made connections, and began recognizing strengths not only in the story, but also in themselves.
That’s the magic of read-alouds. They create shared experiences filled with curiosity, laughter, connection, and reflection. But underneath that joy, something powerful is happening. Read-alouds offer a natural, accessible way to authentically explore character strengths. Through story, students experience emotions, uncertainty, and problem-solving in a safe space. They begin to see what strength looks like, sounds like, and feels like. And that’s exactly why Owl Babies is the perfect next step.
Why Owl Babies?
In Owl Babies, three young owls, Sarah, Percy, and Bill, wake up to find their mother gone. What unfolds is a quiet, emotional journey through fear, waiting, and trust.
Across the story, students naturally encounter four powerful character strengths:
-Leadership
-Bravery
-Hope
-Spirituality (trust, connection, and belief that difficult moments can improve)
Even the visual structure of your resource reinforces this work, with each page pairing the story with these strengths as a consistent lens for thinking.
Modeling Character Strengths in Real Time
The power of a read-aloud lies in what the teacher does during the reading. By pausing, noticing, and naming, you help students move from the following:
-hearing the story
-understanding the story
-connecting to the story
-seeing themselves within it
This intentional approach mirrors the same meaning-making work we saw with Swimmy, where teachers guide students to recognize strengths as they unfold in the story.
How Can I Try This?
Start With Purpose: Set the Lens
Before reading, frame the experience: “Today, we’re going to listen to a story about three baby owls. As we read, we’ll look for moments that show leadership, bravery, hope, and spirituality. This shifts students from passive listening to intentional thinking.
Pause With Intention: Model the Thinking
As you read, pause at key moments:
-When the mother is gone:
“They feel scared. But they stay together. That takes bravery.”
-When Sarah explains what might be happening:
“She’s helping the others feel calm. That’s leadership.”
-When Percy says, ‘I suppose so’:
“He’s trying to believe things will be okay. That’s hope.”
-When they close their eyes and wait:
“They are trusting something bigger—that their mother will come back. That’s spirituality.”
-When Bill repeats, ‘I want my mommy’:
“Even saying how you feel is part of being brave.”
Why This Matters
When literacy is linked to character strengths, students feel recognized, develop emotional language, and build resilience. Most importantly, they learn that it’s okay to feel uncertain and to wait, knowing they already possess strengths to support them.
Try It!
-Start with Owl Babies.
-Bring the same energy you had with Swimmy.
-Slow down. Notice. Name the strengths.
You might be surprised once more at what your students observe.
