Rockefeller tree owl is subject of new Christmas book for children

Rockefeller, the now-viral owl that was discovered inside the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, is the star of a new children’s book published earlier this month describing his travels.

“Rockefeller The Christmas Owl” was independently published on Dec. 8.

It tells “a charming tale told in verse about the brave little owl separated from his parents just before Christmas time,” and “how he manages to get back home to them in time, with Santa’s help,” according to the book description on Amazon states.

The book is based owl that became a viral sensation after it was found inside the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center Plaza in New York City.

The book’s author, T. Troy Kolo, told The New York Post that “when I had heard the news, I immediately thought, ‘Boy, gee, there is a story there that practically writes itself.’” 

“When the idea struck immediately after hearing about [the owl], I sat down and started to do a couple of verses and in a few days I had something finished,” he continued.

“It’s about getting back to your parents and the importance of family and how deep that runs within most of us,” he told the Post.

The real-life owl was discovered last month in the 75-foot-tall Christmas tree. A man who works for the company that transports the tree first discovered the bird, which was then taken in by the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center in Saugerties, N.Y.

The wildlife center, which aptly named the bird “Rockefeller,” said she is a Saw-whet owl, the smallest variety of owl that lives in the northeast U.S.

Although they initially believed the bird was a male, they later determined that it is a female

Rockefeller was returned to the wild on Nov. 24.  The wildlife center shared a video on Facebook of the bird being released.

The wildlife center is also partnering with Little Brown and Company to tell Rockefeller’s story in a children’s book. It will be authored by Ellen Kalish and Gideon Sterer, the center shared on Facebook on Dec. 5.