Rocky the owl inspires children’s book about his journey in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree

The story of a little Saw-Whet owl has sparked creativity across the country

Updated: 10:45 PM EST Nov 13, 2021

Special Projects Producer

This is the story about a story.Two stories, in fact.A month before the lights, the glitz and the pageantry of the 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting in New York, the 75-foot tall spruce tree had to be cut down in upstate New York.Along for the ride, as the tree was transported from the woods to the big city, in his little nest, was a Saw-Whet owl. The poor guy hadn't had food or water for three days. The man driving the truck had noticed him in the tree, got a box, and put him inside.The owl was eventually taken to the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center in Saugerties, New York. They dubbed the little guy "Rockefeller," for obvious reasons. That being a long name, they called him "Rocky" for short. "I read the article and started thinking, wow, that would be a great children's book," said Kim Dwyer, a clinical psychologist in Denver, Colorado. "I had lots of other pots on the fire in my professional life, walked away from it, and like the idea just kept coming back. And I think, you know, I also felt, you know, so timely, like, I felt this, this like it, write this, write this now write this book now and get your thoughts out while they're fresh."Her thoughts turned to Rocky's journey, translated to human feelings. A Saw-Whet owl doesn't have the low-pitched kind of "hoot" you might think of. It's more like a higher-pitched, as Dwyer writes it, "toot." Not dissimilar from the whine of a saw being sharpened.The feelings and sounds were put into her first-ever Christmas book, Rocky's Christmas Journey."There's something there that's emotional," Dwyer said. "And I'm using that as an opportunity to, to talk as basic as like, how are people feeling right now? How do you think you know, the main character, how's Rocky feeling when he finds himself in this tree in the middle of a city, and he's so far away from, you know, where he grew up, or where he decided to build his nest?"In the end, though, her hope is that parents will help kids realize that they can see themselves in Rocky as well."I mean, if you think about it, we could take that story of Rocky, and we could substitute a four-year-old and you're going off to school, and I can remember being that age, and you know, I wasn't particularly thrilled to be going off to school, and a lot of kids feel that way," Dwyer said.It's more of a fictional account, but one she hopes will connect with kids.Dwyer isn't alone, the folks at the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center have written their own book for kids. Theirs is a little less fictional, but the same journey. They also sell tree ornaments, clothes, cups and more with Rocky's image on them. Dwyer's book is available at retail stores and online.The real Rocky, by the way, had a happy ending too, just like the Rocky in Dwyer's book —found and set free. Rocky's came with some help from the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center.

NEW YORK —

This is the story about a story.

Two stories, in fact.

A month before the lights, the glitz and the pageantry of the 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting in New York, the 75-foot tall spruce tree had to be cut down in upstate New York.

Along for the ride, as the tree was transported from the woods to the big city, in his little nest, was a Saw-Whet owl. The poor guy hadn't had food or water for three days. The man driving the truck had noticed him in the tree, got a box, and put him inside.

The owl was eventually taken to the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center in Saugerties, New York. They dubbed the little guy "Rockefeller," for obvious reasons. That being a long name, they called him "Rocky" for short.

"I read the article and started thinking, wow, that would be a great children's book," said Kim Dwyer, a clinical psychologist in Denver, Colorado. "I had lots of other pots on the fire in my professional life, walked away from it, and like the idea just kept coming back. And I think, you know, I also felt, you know, so timely, like, I felt this, this like it, write this, write this now write this book now and get your thoughts out while they're fresh."

Her thoughts turned to Rocky's journey, translated to human feelings.

A Saw-Whet owl doesn't have the low-pitched kind of "hoot" you might think of. It's more like a higher-pitched, as Dwyer writes it, "toot." Not dissimilar from the whine of a saw being sharpened.

The feelings and sounds were put into her first-ever Christmas book, Rocky's Christmas Journey.

Kim Dwyer and Moran Reudor

"There's something there that's emotional," Dwyer said. "And I'm using that as an opportunity to, to talk as basic as like, how are people feeling right now? How do you think you know, the main character, how's Rocky feeling when he finds himself in this tree in the middle of a city, and he's so far away from, you know, where he grew up, or where he decided to build his nest?"

In the end, though, her hope is that parents will help kids realize that they can see themselves in Rocky as well.

"I mean, if you think about it, we could take that story of Rocky, and we could substitute a four-year-old and you're going off to school, and I can remember being that age, and you know, I wasn't particularly thrilled to be going off to school, and a lot of kids feel that way," Dwyer said.

It's more of a fictional account, but one she hopes will connect with kids.

Dwyer isn't alone, the folks at the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center have written their own book for kids. Theirs is a little less fictional, but the same journey. They also sell tree ornaments, clothes, cups and more with Rocky's image on them. Dwyer's book is available at retail stores and online.

The real Rocky, by the way, had a happy ending too, just like the Rocky in Dwyer's book —found and set free. Rocky's came with some help from the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center.