THE WORLD OF GARY THE OWL

Gary’s Treehouse

Come in and find a hat, a coloring page, or a good book to read with Gary.

Visit the hat rack Browse the books

A READ-ALOUD FROM SAD HAT DAY

Join the Story

Open Sad Hat Day with Gary. Turn the pages yourself or listen to the first three pages.

Gary wears a feathered hat on a leafy branch.

Page 1

There once was an owl named Gary.

Gary looking up from a round braided rug with two of his favorite hats beside him

MEET GARY

A little owl with a lot of hats

Gary likes to read, make things, and wear a hat that fits how he feels. One morning, none of his hats feels quite right. So he gets out the fabric, the feathers, and his sewing supplies.

Explore Sad Hat Day

THE HAT RACK

What hat are you wearing today?

Choose a feeling and see Gary in the original art from Sad Hat Day.

Gary in the sad illustration from Sad Hat Day

TURN TO A FEELING

Gary tries a tall blue hat with a feather. What helps you on a sad day?

Gary and his hats are from Sad Hat Day.

FOR HOME AND CLASSROOM

Make a hat of your own

Color Gary, cut out hats from the book, or choose a hat for a make-believe moment.

Open Gary’s printables

A TREEHOUSE SEEK-AND-FIND

Help Gary Find His Stuff

Gary has hats, tools, and a few surprises tucked around his treehouse. Pick a picture and see what you can spot.

Color Gary at his sewing table →

Help Gary Find His Stuff

Pick a picture, then tap each object when you spot it.

Craft table

  • Blue hat
  • Glue bottle
  • Feather
  • Scissors
  • Blue crayon
  • Stack of colored paper
  • White sheet

0 of 7 things found.

Gary sits at a craft table by a round window

COLOR, CUT, AND TALK

The Treehouse activity cupboard

Start with a coloring page or bring the hat game to the kitchen table.

MAKE AND PLAY

Design a feeling hat

Color Gary, draw a hat for your mood, or cut out three hats from Sad Hat Day.

Make a hat

FROM GARY’S READING CHAIR

Browse Gary’s Bookshelf

Step into Gary’s reading nook and pull a favorite off the shelf.

THREE FAVORITES

Pick a book from the shelf

Gary keeps stories about feelings and friendship near his reading chair. Open one to find his reading note.

Visit Gary’s Bookshelf

FROM GARY’S BOOKSHELF

One owl, more adventures

A story to read today and another taking shape at the craft table.

Gary the Owl: Sad Hat Day book cover

PUBLISHED

Gary the Owl: Sad Hat Day

Written by Sharon Benari Bounik
Illustrations created with AI

Gary wakes up sad and sets out to make a hat that feels just right. His sewing table has other plans.

Explore the book
Gary the Owl · Book 2

IN THE WORKS

Gary the Owl · Book 2

Written and illustrated by Sharon Benari Bounik

Gary is busy crafting when a mysterious thwack sends him looking for answers.

Sharon’s illustration of Gary at his craft table by a round window

A PEEK AT BOOK TWO

Thwack, thwack, thwack

Gary is right in the middle of gluing when he hears an unfamiliar sound. He puts his crafting aside and goes to see what’s making all that noise.