CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

BY R. A. MONTGOr
A DRAGONLARK BOOK
 Fans Love Reading
Choose Your Own Adventure®!

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CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE®

BY R. A. MONTGOMERY

A DRAGOHLARK BOOR
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE and the CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE IN OVAL are
trademarks of Chooseco LLC and are registered in the United States and may be registered in juris¬
dictions internationally. Chooseco's trademarks, service marks, and trade dress may not be used in
connection with any product or service that is not affiliated with Chooseco LLC, or in any manner
that is likely to cause confusion among customers, or in any manner that disparaqes or discredits
Chooseco LLC.

Owl Tree © 1986 R.A. Montgomery

Warren, Vermont. All Rights Reserved.

Artwork, design, and revised text © 2010 Chooseco, LLC,

Waitsfield, Vermont. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form
or by any other means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the
prior written permission of Chooseco, LLC.

Illustrated by: Gabhor Uotomo

Book design: Stacey Boyd, Big Eyedea Visual Design
For information regarding permission, write to-

CHOOSECO
P.O. Box 46
Waitsfield, Vermont 05673
www.cyoa.com

A DRAGONLARK BOOK
ISBN: 1-933390-80-8
"S
EAN: 978-1-933390-80-2

Published simultaneously in the United States and Canada

Printed in the United States of America.

0987654321
For Ramsey
A DRAGONLARK BOOK
 READ THIS FIRST!!!

WATCH OUT!
THIS BOOK IS DIFFERENT
than every book you’ve ever read.

Don’t believe me?

Have you ever read a book that was about YOU?

This book is!

YOU get to choose what happens next

—and even how the story will end.

DON’T READ THIS BOOK FROM

THE FIRST PAGE TO THE LAST.

Read until you reach a choice.

Turn to the page of the choice you like best.
If you don’t like the end you reach, just start over!
 The day you
red the
owl tree was
magical. You were
hiking in the forest
near your house when you
stumbled into a large clearing. In the center of
't stood a maple tree. Its trunk was so thick
that four kids linking hands would barely
circle it!
As you stood under the tree looking up,
you were surprised by several questions.
“Whooo?”
“Whoooo?”
Whooooo?’
“It’s me,” you replied, wondering who was
asking, “who?”
V Then a bunch of
owls poked their heads
out of the tree. You spent
the day there and learned
many of the owls’ secrets.

Turn to the next page.

 Today your best friend, Sally, is coming to the owl tree
with you. It’s a sunny Saturday—a perfect day for a hike
in the woods. You lace up your hiking boots, strap on
your backpack, and head for the corner of your street
where Sally is waiting.
When the two of you reach the clearing, you stand still.
Softly you call, “Whooo? Whooo?” Minutes later some
owls pop out of the tree.
“What happens now?” asks Sally.
“We can follow an owl to a magic kingdom,” you say.
“But we’ll have to wait until one leaves.”
“What’s the other choice?” she asks.
“We can ask the owls some questions. They’re very
wise.”
“You decide,” Sally answers. “You’ve been here before.”

If you wait and follow an owl to a magic kingdom,

turn to page 4.

If you decide to ask the owls questions,

turn to page 8.
-
 You and Sally settle down to wait. The forest floor is soft
and the day is warm. The owls watch you. They swivel
their heads back and forth and blink their huge eyes.
Suddenly a barn owl leaves with a flap of wings.
“One’s leaving,” you shout. “Let’s go.”

Turn to the next page.

•a^TT
 7
You and Sally take off after the owl. The forest is thick
with trees and plants. The owl soars above them, dipping
in and out of view. As you run, you trip over roots and
stumble over bushes.
Suddenly you come to a wide river. You look up, but the
owl is gone! To the right of the river is a well-used trail.
On your left stands a high stone wall. It looks old and
crumbly.
“Drat!” you say to Sally. “Which way should we go?”

//you decide to follow the trail, turn to page 11.

If you decide to climb over the wall, turn to page 14.

//you decide to cross the river,; turn to page 21.

 You step close to the owl tree and ask in your most
polite voice, “Oh, owls, most wise owls, what will I be
when I grow up?”
A small saw-whet owl leans forward and speaks in a
whisper. “If you are prepared to carry out my every
command, then I will reveal your future.”
“Forget it, owl,” Sally says. “I have enough commands
to obey. My big brother bosses me around all the time!”
You don’t know what to do. Who knows what this owl
will command? Maybe you can get one of the other owls
to answer your question.

//you ask the saw-whet owl what he wants you to do,

turn to page 12.

If you ask a different owl about your future,

turn to page 16.
 "I see something moving over there," you say, pointing
down the trail. "Let's go that way."
You and Sally follow the trail for awhile. Along the way
you spot a strange-looking bush with two bright yellow
flowers. As you step toward it there's a flash of wings.
Two bright yellow eyes—not flowers—blink at you. It's
the owl!
With a loud hoot he flies off above the trail.
You and Sally follow as best you can on the ground.
Finally the owl makes a left by an oak tree, and you
round the corner after him. You don't see the owl
anywhere, but hanging from a oak tree is a plump leather
sack.

If you decide to look in the sack, turn to page 33.

If you decide to keep looking for the owl,

turn to page 40.
 What would you like me to do?” you ask the saw-whet
owl.
“Bring me fresh raspberries from the bushes of Illnoor,”
the saw-whet owl replies, blinking his eyes.
“What’s Illnoor?” you ask.
It s the home of the Great Zoonies. They are large and
very mean creatures. They guard the raspberry bushes.”
“That sounds dangerous!” Sally snaps. Then she turns to
you. “I’m not going anywhere. Are you going to Illnoor?”

If you travel alone to Illnoor,; turn to page 19.

If you tell the owl you won’t go, turn to page 25.
 You and Sally each grab hold of a sturdy stone in the
wall to pull yourselves up. You manage to climb about
three feet from the bottom. But when you look up, you
see that the top of the wall isn’t getting any closer. Then
it hits you: as you climb it, this old stone wall is growing!
“I don’t think we’re getting anywhere,” Sally shouts.
“What do you think we should do?”

If you say, “Let’s jump off this wall,” turn to page 24.

If you say, “Let’s keep trying to climb this old wall,”

turn to page 28.
 16

You look up at a horned owl. “Oh, horned owl, you

look wiser than the little saw-whet owl. Can you tell me
what I’ll be when I grow up?”
The horned owl clears his throat. He’s about to answer
you when the saw-whet owl speaks up.
Just wait one minute, my friend! I’m just as wise—or
wiser! I’ll prove it, too. Ask me another question.”
You can t decide. Should you ask the horned owl what
you will be when you grow up, or ask both of them a new
question?

If you ask the horned owl the same question,

turn to page 20.

If you ask both owls a new question, turn to page 23.

 It doesn’t take long to get to Illnoor.
From a distance you can see the Great
Zoonies and they look harmless.
They’re furry creatures shaped like
caterpillars—only bigger.

. 9m**

to page 42.
 20
“What am I going to be when I grow up?” you ask for
the second time. You wait patiently while the owl
stretches to his full height. He rearranges his feathers. He
blinks his eyes. Finally he speaks.
“That’s a difficult question. A very difficult question. You
could be a teacher or a writer or a doctor or a lawyer or
an artist or a builder or anything you want to be. You’ll
have to wait and find out.”
The saw-whet owl hoots good-bye as he and the other
owls duck back into the owl tree. As you and Sally hike
home through the forest, you think about the owl’s
answer. You wish he told you more about your future, but
you know he’s right—what happens is up to you!
 I thought I saw him on the other side of the river. Let s
try to cross it,” you say.
You look for a way to get to the other side. Luckily,
there’s an old wooden boat pulled up on the bank. The
oars are still in it.
“Let’s borrow the boat,” you say.
“Maybe we shouldn’t. It’s not ours,” Sally says.
 “This boat hasn’t been used in a long time. Look at all
the leaves in the bottom,” you reply. “We can return it
after we find the owl.”
The two of you push the boat into the river and jump
aboard. You begin to row across. But the river is flowing
very fast and the boat gets caught in its swift current.
“Help, Sally! I can’t control the boat!” you yell.

Turn to page 27.

 You decide to ask the owl a new question. You huddle
with Sally. Finally you speak up.
“Oh wise and great owls, what will happen to the
world?”
There is silence. You can hear yourself breathe and the
tree’s leaves gently rubbing together.

Turn to page 37.

24
Just as you and Sally are about to drop to the ground, the
barn owl lands on top of the wall. He peers down at you.
"Too late, too late," he says. "You should have tried to
climb to the top of the wall. I would have shown you the
Castle of Remembrance where dreams stay alive. We
would have visited the Hall of Flowers where spring and
summer never end. Oh well, maybe well visit another day.”
Then the owl disappears and the stone wall shrinks. To
the west you see the sun sinking behind the trees. It's too
late today for any more exploring, but you'll go back to
the owl tree another day!

The End
 When you refuse to go to Illnoor, the saw-whet owl
stares hard at you. He looks mad, but you don’t care.
You’re not about to change your mind!
Finally the owl winks at you and Sally. Then he says, “I
was just testing you. You’ve responded wisely to my
request. So, now I’ll tell you what the future holds.
Ready?”
You yell, “Ready!” The owl shifts his feathers.

Turn to page 43.

 27
Just then the barn owl flies overhead.
“Took on a bit too much today, I see,” he says in a
squeaky voice.
“He talks!” Sally shouts, so surprised that she almost
falls over the side of the boat.
“Please help us, owl,” you beg. “This boat is out of
control!”
“Go with the current and aim for shore when you get
close to the bank of the river,” the owl replies wisely.
“You’ll be safe.”
Your boat bounces in the rough water while you watch
the owl fly away. Finally the river bends, and you use the
oars to steer the boat toward the bank. It bumps up on a
sandy beach.
“I don’t know about you, Sally,” you say as you climb
out of the boat, “but I think home will look like a magic
kingdom after this boat ride!”

The End
 28
You and Sally back away from the wall and begin to
count.
“One.. .two.. .three.. .GO! ”
And suddenly you’re both sitting on top of it—almost as
if you flew!
When you look down over the wall, you see a castle
surrounded by an old-fashioned town. Tiny people are
running around busily. Some are adding bricks to a fort
outside the castle. Others are hooking up horses to carts.
It s the Kingdom of Gollop,” says a calm voice beside
you.
30
 31

HJl

The barn owl is sitting on the wall next to you!

“It’s a shame you can’t visit Gollop right now, the
owl continues. “The Gollops are getting ready to battle
the Evil Fotons.”
But before you ask the owl more about Gollop and
the Evil Fotons, the wall shrinks to its normal size and
the kingdom disappears.
The owl is gone.
Turn to page 39.
 You shimmy up the trunk of the oak tree and crawl
along a thin brown branch. As you reach for the sack you
hear the branch bend.
"Watch out!” Sally cries.
Crack! Wham! Thud!
The sack, branch, and you fall to the ground!
You're not hurt, but the sack is. A strange light spills
from the tear and spreads on the ground like a puddle of
water.

Turn to the next page.

 ''Salllllllllllly. Sallllllllllyyyy!" you say in a frightened
whisper. She is hiding behind you.
"What is that stuff?" she asks.
At that very moment the light gathers together, rises off
the ground, and swirls into a cloudy shape. Slowly the
figure of the creature—half owl, half stag—appears.
"I am the spirit of this forest. I rule the birds, the wind,
the sky, the sunlight, the rain, and all the animals. I will
grant you one wish. What will it be?" The creature waits
for you to answer.
What is your wish?
You decide.

The End
 The saw-whet owl looks nervous. The great horned owl
rolls his round eyes.
“The world will survive. There will be hard times and
even dangerous times, but the world will survive. You
must help it, though.”
How will you help?

The End
 “I guess we’re not going to see a magic kingdom
today,” you say to Sally as you jump down from the wall.
“Let’s head back to the owl tree and see if we can get the
owls to answer some questions.”
When you get back to the tree several owls are sitting
in its branches.

Turn to page 8.
 You turn toward the forest—the owl may have gone
that way. But Sally stays right where she is. “1 want to
look in the sack,” she says. “I’ll catch up with you later.”
You follow a muddy trail for a short while. But as you
hike deeper into the woods, moss and large tree roots
sprawl over the path. And the trees and bushes become
thicker, blocking out the sun. Your heart races a little—it’s
pretty dark here!
You hike about half a mile, but there’s still no sign of the
owl. You lean against a tree and close your eyes. You rest
for a few minutes. But suddenly you hear some leaves
rustle, and then another noise—like footsteps.
Who’s coming? you wonder nervously. It may be Sally
catching up to you. On the other hand it could be some¬
thing dangerous—like a bear looking for dinner!

If you break into a run, turn to page 44.

If you think it s Sally and stay where you are,

turn to page 45.
 When you enter lllnoor, the Great Zoonies welcome
you and invite you to a feast of raspberries. After you stuff
yourself with the juicy berries, you rest in the warm sun.
You explain to the Great Zoonies why you've come. They
tell you that the saw-whet owl always tries to steal the
raspberries. "If only he'd ask,” one says with a sigh.
"We'd give him all the berries he wanted.”
You decide to stay with the Great Zoonies. From time
to time you miss Sally and your family. And you wonder
if the saw-whet owl is still waiting for you. But you no
longer need the owl's wisdom. Now you know that your
future will be a happy life in lllnoor!

The End
 Suddenly a bigger saw-whet owl swoops out of the owl
tree.
“Okay, Sammy. That’s enough for today,” she says.
“Stop teasing those humans.”
The small saw-whet owl disappears into a hole in the
owl tree. Then the larger one looks at you and Sally and
says, “Owls are very wise, but even we can’t tell the
future!”

The End
 You run as fast as you can. You are out of breath when
you get back to the oak tree. Sally is crawling along one
of its branches.
"Hello!" she cries. "You're as white as a ghost. Did the
owl scare you?"
"I thought you might need some help back here," you
say guickly. There's no need to explain that you just ran
away from a noise!
Sally reaches for the sack. But before she can grab it, it
shakes loose from the branch. Suddenly it has wings...the
sack is a horned owl!
The owl circles overhead and then rests on a branch.
"Why have you entered my forest?" he demands.

Turn to
page 47.
 You stand up straight against the tree and wait for
whoever, or whatever, is coming. You hope it’s Sally!
The footsteps sound closer and closer. Finally a clump
of bushes parts, and Sally steps through it! Her face is red
with excitement.
“Boy am I glad to see you,” you say.
“Never mind that,” she says. “Look what I found in the
sack.” She puts something heavy into your hand.

Turn to the next page.

 You look at what Sally has given you. It’s a long gold
bar and carved into it are the words:

ADMIT 2 TO THE KINGDOM OF GOLLOP.

“The Kingdom of Gollop,” you say. “That’s a secret

kingdom. One of the owls told me about it when I found
the owl tree.”
Then you look up. The barn owl is circling over your
heads. “Come on, owl!” you shout. “Lead the way to
Gollop!”

The End
 Quickly you step forward. “We’re sorry, Mr. Owl—if
you are a mister owl. We didn’t mean to trespass. We
didn’t hurt anything, honest.”
“Harrumph! A likely story,” he responds. “Well, get
going. This is my forest, and I say out. Now!”
“Let’s go home,” you say to Sally. “Whooo knows what
this mean old owl will do!”

The End
 Watch for these titles coming up in the
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE*
Dragonlarks® series for Beginning Readers
ALWAYS PICKED LAST
YOUR VERY OWN ROBOT GOES CUCKOO-BANANAS
RETURN TO HAUNTED HOUSE
THE OWL TREE
“Kids this age THE LAKE MONSTER MYSTERY This set of
love the power YOUR VERY OWN ROBOT books was
of choice., THE HAUNTED HOUSE a big hit
.these are my YOUR PURRR-FECT BIRTHDAY with my
child's favorite SAND CASTLE grand¬
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— cyoa.com INDIAN TRAIL ~ cyoa.com
CARAVAN
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVtflTl choose your mm t&nsm CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE1
I tOOSB YOUR OWN ADVENTlftt* f
"°<»e inmoMnu,,.

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Purchase online at www.cyoa.com or ask your local bookseller

 CREDITS

Illustrator: Gabhor Uotomo was born in Indonesia. He moved

to California to pursue his passion in art. He received his degree from
Academy of Art University in San Francisco in spring 2003. Since
graduation, he’s worked as a freelance illustrator and has illustrated a
number of children’s books. Gabhor lives with his wife, Dina, and hfe
twin girls in San Francisco Bay Area.
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

R. A. Montgomery has hiked in the Himalayas, climbed

mountains in Europe, scuba-dived in Central America, and
worked in Africa. He lives in France in the winter, travels
frequently to Asia, and calls Vermont home. Montgomery grad¬
uated from Williams College and attended graduate school at
Yale University and NYU. His interests include macroeco¬
nomics, geo-politics, mythology, history, mystery novels, and
music. He has two grown sons, a daughter-in-law, and two
granddaughters. His wife, Shannon Gilligan, is an author and
noted interactive game designer. Montgomery feels that the
new generation of people under 15 is the most important asset
in our world.

For games, activities and other fun stuff,

or to write to R. A. Montgomery,
visit us online at www.cyoa.com
 ■s

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UNION OOUNTY PUBLIC LI

M«nro«, NC 28112
 UNION COUNTY PUBLIC LIB

8710 9100 501 384 2

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BY R.A. MONTGOMERY

HAVE YOU EVER READ A BOOR

THAT'S ABOUT YOU? THIS BOOR IS!
You and your friend Sally like to hike together in the forest near your
neighborhood. One afternoon you discover a-beautiful tree that is the
home to many different types of owls. Why do all these birds live
together in the same old tree? They seem to have magical powers.
You can ask them questions about the future, or ask them to take you
on a magical journey to a far-away kingdom. Sally is a great friend
and you both loves adventures. YOU choose what happens next!
visit us online at cyoa.com
Choose Your Own Adventure®
Dragonlarks

an imprint of Chodseco LLC

P.O. Box 46
Waitsfield, VT 05673

$7.99 US $8.99 CAN

*06-CIF-833*

ISBN 978- •933390 80-2

781933 390802