Review by Booklist Review
Last year's beaver den is this year's cozy lair for a mother otter and three newborn pups. When they are finally allowed out, they lose no time leaping and tumbling, pouncing and wrestling, because, well, otters love to play. With their waterproof fur coats, the pups gracefully spin and flip and swish like underwater acrobats. They learn to hunt, guided by their supersensitive whiskers. Since otters don't hibernate, they romp all through winter. As for any would-be predators, never mess with a fierce otter mother if you can help it. London, the author of 100-plus picture books and best known for his ever-growing Froggy series, combines family adventure and facts to create a frolicsome, informative tale. A reminder about the two distinct fonts (one for the otter story, another for the explanatory tidbits), an index, and an About Otters endnote further enhance the learning opportunity. So's whimsical art aptly conceived in flowing watercolors adds mischievous charm to all that beckoning play.--Hong, Terry Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-A buoyant text and exquisite watercolor artwork follow a litter of frisky pups as they awaken to the world around them and learn the skills necessary to survive. Complementing the story of these rambunctious aquatic animals' adventures are details on their anatomy and habits, and the purpose of play. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
A clutch of river otter pups grows and develops through the four seasons of their North American habitat. Shortly after their birth in springtime in a (borrowed) beaver den, the pups learn to swim, fish, eat and -- most entertainingly -- play (Playing is fun, but otters play with a purpose). The young otters chase each other on land through flowers, fields, and piles of leaves; splash around in the water; tussle over sticks and fish; and slide down snowy river banks. The main narrative, in a larger font, tells the story of this otter family, while a second, smaller text periodically provides additional factual information about otter development. Lively illustrations capture the kinetic movements of otters, their slinky, flexible bodies, and the irresistible cuteness of their stocky paws and whiskered faces. Only once is there an external threat that shows otters less friendly side: a fox is quickly scared off by the snarling mother -- and playtime resumes. danielle j. ford (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Otters love to play, and so do children. Perhaps that is why so many children love otters, "one of the most playful creatures of all wildlife," which London highlights in this engaging text featuring irresistible illustrations by So. Using the formula he established in Hippos Are Huge, illustrated by Matthew Trueman (2015), London delivers the main facts in broad strokes. These appear in bouncy large print while additional information appears in smaller type. Readers follow pups throughout their first year. Seen in spring nestled in their nest, toothless and "about the size of a small candy bar," the otters soon emerge to playand learn. They wrestle, roll, swim ("Ka-Splash!"), and catch fish. By fall they are almost fully grown. Beautifully designed, fluid, colorful watercolor paintings evoke the otters' habitat through the seasons in the river and on the shore. The otters are often rendered in drybrush so their expressions, poses, and activities are finely detailed, inviting close inspection. Neither the threat of winter nor a fox slows down the otters, and they celebrate the arrival of spring on a mud slide. This fine introduction to the species includes an index and a note providing more information, but there is no bibliography, so motivated young naturalists will want to look elsewhere for additional resources. Both playful and beguiling, just like its subjects. (Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
