A new picture book, Owls Make Terrible Teachers, by local author, Kristi Mahoney, will release just in time for Teacher Appreciation Week, which is celebrated nationwide from Monday, May 4, 2026 – Fri, May 8, 2026.
Surprises await in Owls Make Terrible Teachers when an owl takes flight in a classroom as a substitute teacher. From an impromptu pajama day, feather-filled social studies lesson, hunting for a midnight snack, and a field trip to “an actual field”, this school day stretches into a night like no other. Kirkus Reviews praises the new picture book stating that it is: “Classroom chaos done right.”“I’m hoping readers will laugh while they learn about owls,” Mahoney states. “But ultimately, I’m hoping this book will inspire an appreciation for the real hero of the story – ‘human’ teachers everywhere.”
Mahoney lives with her family in Franklin, MA. Her debut book, Alpacas Make Terrible Librarians, (illustrated by Chantelle and Burgen Throne and published by Gnome Road), was released in October 2024. It was awarded as a Winner of the Children’s Book Council’s 2025 Children's Favorite Award and has received positive trade reviews from: School Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus and Foreword Reviews.
According to Worldcat.org, Mahoney’s debut book is currently in over 450 libraries across the U.S. and beyond. Mahoney’s second book, Owls Make Terrible Teachers, releases this month. Books are available wherever books are sold. Signed copies are currently available exclusively at the local indie bookstore, An Unlikely Story, in Plainville, MA.
