Howlie: A Howlie Adventure is a warm, autumn-crisp story about being the “new kid,” feeling out of place, and discovering that the very things that make someone different can also make them essential.

The book opens with Lexi’s move from Chicago to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and it nails that disorienting feeling of landing in a town that seems to have its own language and rules. Questions like whether she “has people in town,” comments about her “city clothes,” and local references she doesn’t understand immediately place Lexi on the outside looking in. That loneliness feels real, especially for young readers who’ve ever been new somewhere.

The story’s magic arrives in a beautifully paced moment of quiet: Lexi hears an eerie, lovely song in the night and follows it to Basin Spring Park. There she meets Howlie, a black, shaggy Ozark Howler with curved horns and glowing yellow eyes. He is more misunderstood than frightening. Instead of leaning into horror, the book makes a smart, kid-friendly choice as it turns the “monster” into someone tender, hungry, and lonely. Howlie’s confession that he was cast out for his yellow eyes and for preferring bacon cheeseburgers to people adds humor while still keeping the emotional stakes clear.

One of the strongest parts of this story is its theme that belonging isn’t about blending in and is more about being seen. Lexi doesn’t just accept Howlie privately, she tries to help her schoolmates understand him, too. The show-and-tell scene is a standout, because it captures a very kid-true frustration, telling the truth, being brave, and still not being believed. The eventual moment when Howlie appears and the class begins to respond with curiosity (and even kindness, through the offered lunch) delivers a satisfying payoff without feeling overly emotional.

The setting also does quiet work in the background. Basin Spring Park and the idea that Howlie’s ancient song keeps the spring water “magic” flowing gives the story a local-legend feel because it is based on a tale being whispered about in Eureka Springs. The ending, with Lexi and Howlie singing together each night and the Mud Street Cafe feeding him, lands on a gentle, and hopeful note. Community grows bigger when it chooses compassion.

Overall, Howlie: A Howlie Adventure is a sweet, imaginative story that blends folklore-style magic with an accessible message about empathy, friendship, and finding your place. It’s especially well-suited for elementary readers who enjoy creature-friendly stories, small-town mysteries, and books that reassure them.

Social media campaigns and a book launch at Ozark Creative Writers 60th Anniversary Conference in Eureka Springs, Arkansas on October 10-12. Howlie plushies are also available in most shops in the Eureka Springs area.