Meet Hoot Owl – A Soft Friend for Surgery Day 🦉💛
Hoot Owl is getting ready for surgery—and with your support, we can help comfort little ones who are too.
Hoot Owl was designed to be more than just a cute plush — it’s a companion for anyone facing surgery or health challenges, offering comfort and healing during difficult times.
This plush features a removable SPICA hip cast and movable legs, giving it a realistic but comforting look that helps children relate to the process of recovery. Hoot Owl is a reminder that no matter what challenges a child faces, they are resilient, loved, and deserving of comfort. It's a tool for empathy and connection, designed to help kids feel understood and supported.
Front with Cast
Laying down with brace
Sitting
View of back of brace, Hoot sitting
Sitting with brace
The Power of Representation - A Hoot For Everyone!
One of the driving forces behind Hoot Owl is the need for authentic representation. Throughout Maggie's journey, I struggled to find toys or stories that reflected her experiences. I wanted to change that. Every child, whether they are recovering from surgery, living with a disability, or facing a unique challenge, deserves to see themselves represented in toys, books, and media.
Hoot Owl isn’t just a plush — it’s an embodiment of strength, resilience, and empowerment for kids. It shows that differences are normal, and that everyone, no matter what they’re going through, deserves support and care. It’s my way of ensuring that children like Maggie — and all children — feel seen, understood, and loved.
HoOT is pretty Amazing and would love to be a friend to everyone!
Affordable price point
Flexibility -- Hoot's legs move, and Hoot's cast is removable
Supporting a good cause -- many of our pledge levels allow you to help donate Hoots to those in need
Perfect "Get Well Soon" gift for yourself, a child you know, or a friend.
By backing Hoot Owl, you are helping make a real difference in the lives of children recovering from surgery, illness, or injury. Your support goes beyond simply purchasing a plush — it’s about providing comfort, love, and encouragement to children who need it most.
Here are some of the pledge tiers you can choose from:
Get Your Own Hoot Owl: Pledge for a single Hoot Owl plush — the perfect comfort companion for anyone
Gift a Hoot Owl: Pledge to send a Hoot Owl to a child who could use some extra support during their recovery.
Special Edition & Rewards: Exclusive tiers offer special versions of Hoot Owl, including the Linen Hoot Owl with a matching Rhino brace, and fun Hoot Owl stickers to show your support.
Every Hoot Owl that you help bring to life means more children will have a comforting, supportive friend during their recovery process. Your pledge allows us to provide these plushes to children in need, offering not just a cuddly companion but a symbol of resilience, hope, and strength.
With your help, we can continue to spread the message that differences are normal, healing is possible, and no child should feel alone in their journey. Your support is an investment in the well-being of children everywhere — and together, we can make a meaningful impact, one Hoot Owl at a time.
Hi, I’m Katie, the creator of Acorn Cottage Press. My mission is to create stories and products that empower children by offering authentic, diverse representation. As a parent of children with health challenges and disabilities, I know how important it is to find support, and I’m dedicated to ensuring that every child has access to that comfort.
I’m also thrilled to be collaborating with Tracey Jo Taylor, a talented illustrator and toy designer well known for her work with JellyCat. Tracey’s expertise in designing plushes that are not only incredibly soft but also beautifully crafted has made her the perfect partner to bring Hoot Owl to life. Together, we’ve created a plush that is not only a companion but a source of comfort, offering children a reminder that they are not alone on their healing journey.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about Hoot Owl. Your support will bring comfort to children in need and help normalize disability and health challenges. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of families like ours.
Please consider backing our campaign, sharing it with your network, and helping us spread the word. Every Hoot Owl makes a difference, and with your help, we can provide a cuddly companion to every child who needs it.
In 2022, our second daughter, Maggie, was born prematurely. While she was a tiny fighter, we faced a new challenge months later when doctors discovered she had Hip Dysplasia, a condition where the hip joint doesn’t develop properly. We were quickly referred to Boston Children's Hospital, where we were told Maggie would need surgery to correct the issue. After the surgery, she would require SPICA casting for three months and then Rhino Bracing for the better part of the year.
Throughout this journey, we watched Maggie go through surgery, casting, bracing, and physical therapy, and it was heart-wrenching. But it was also during these difficult moments that we realized how important it was to have comforting, supportive items to help children heal — something they could cuddle and something that would help them feel understood.
