I’m Not Cute by Jonathan Allen is a sweet little story about a baby owl. As with most little ones, baby owl wants to be a big owl. He’s tired of everyone telling him how cute and little he is. He is NOT cute! While playing in the woods he thinks that no one will bother him there. That is until he runs into Rabbit. Rabbit loves Baby Owl and tells him how cute he is and how small. Rabbit picks up Baby Owl to give him a big hug. Baby Owl cries out in protest. He is NOT cute and he is NOT small.

“I am a huge and scary hunting machine with great big soft and silent wings.”

Next Baby Owl runs into Fox while exploring the woods. Fox sees Baby Owl stomping his feet and wings in a tantrum from Rabbit calling him cute. He asks Baby Owl if he is doing a little dance and tells him how cute and fluffy he is. And just like Rabbit, Fox picks up the squirming Baby Owl and gives him a giant hug.

“I am NOT cute!”

“I am a huge, sleek hunting machine with great big see-in-the-dark eyes.”

Baby Owl is losing his patience very quickly now. He can’t seem to get his point across that he is not a cute little baby owl. He is a hunting machine! Now Squirrel has got him in his sights.

“You’re so cute, Baby Owl…With those big baby eyes.”

That’s it; Baby Owl has officially lost it. Time for major tantrum and melt down. He stomps his feet and shakes his wings in protest. When will everyone get it that he is NOT cute and he is NOT a baby? Mama Owl hears her Baby Owl throwing a fit and she wants to know what is wrong. Baby Owl tells Mama about everyone saying how cute and small he is but he’s NOT.

Mama is very wise as most owls are. She plays along with Baby Owl and tells him “Of course you’re not cute, Baby Owl. You’re a huge, scary, sleek, sharp eyed hunting machine.” Now Baby Owl isn’t sure that he wants Mama agreeing to that. He likes it when his Mama says he’s cute and snuggles him. If he’s not small and cute in Mama’s eyes, then does that mean that he’s not her little baby anymore? Baby Owl isn’t sure if he likes that idea at all.