Oko

A round red creature with one very big eye. He spots letters hiding where nobody else looks.

Who is Oko?

Oko is round and red, and he has one very big eye.

Oko lives in the Alphabet Woods, where letters like to hide. A letter might be curled up in a tree branch, or floating in a puddle, or tucked into the shape of a cloud. Most people walk right past them. Oko never does.

What does Oko do?

Oko looks. He looks slowly, and he looks for a long time.

When Oko spots a letter, the two curly feelers on his head wiggle. Have you noticed their shape? They look like question marks. That is because Oko is always wondering about something.

What is Oko like?

Oko is patient, curious, and very good at staring contests.

He does not hurry. He would rather find one letter properly than ten letters in a rush.

Where does his name come from?

In Polish and Czech, the word oko means “eye.” It means the same thing in a few other languages too. We think it is the perfect name for someone who sees so much.

Try this tonight

Can you find a letter hiding in your room, like Oko does? A window can be an H. A cup handle can be a D. Find three before bedtime, and say their names out loud.