Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The star of several picture books and early readers, Garton's willful Otter learns an important Easter truth in this holiday outing: "Sharing is very hard. Because eating chocolate is very easy." After scarfing down all of her Easter treats, eater's remorse sets in, and Otter assumes the guise of the Easter Otter to make amends to the playroom friends she stiffed, candy-wise. Garton's dry humor and carefully detailed scenes offer delights throughout, from the bunny-shaped pancake breakfast-prepared by the ever-patient Otter Keeper-that the chocolate-smeared Otter can't stomach, to the egg hunt Otter organizes for her friends, a lush backyard garden scene that's basically a gift to readers. Ages 4-8. Agent: Brooks Sherman, Bent Agency. (Jan.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-In Otter's latest escapade, a visit from the Easter Bunny prompts a lesson on sharing. When Otter discovers the bounty she's been left, she's ecstatic-chocolate eggs, jelly beans, a chocolate bunny, and more. Otter Keeper encourages his ward to share the wealth with her stuffed bear, giraffe, and pig, but Otter can't bring herself to part with her goodies. After gorging on her candies, Otter nurses a stomachache and grapples with feelings of guilt. However, with a little help from Otter Keeper, the intrepid little creature soon makes things right. Garton has presented another absolutely charming installment in the series. Otter is entirely relatable to children: though she's always well-meaning, mischief has a way of finding her. Her whimsical, chipper perspective infuses the text with life ("But sharing is very hard. Because eating chocolate is very easy."). The digitally rendered illustrations have an appealing softness to them, from pudgy Otter to the brightly colored toys and objects in the household. As in previous titles, there's plenty of humor that results from the contrast between Otter's upbeat, child-centric narration and the actual events depicted (for instance, during the egg hunt that Otter organizes, the sentence, "Teddy found an egg under the bucket" is paired with an image of Otter uncovering the egg while holding her floppy stuffed bear). VERDICT Another delightful romp with Otter. Purchase where there are fans of the series or where materials on Easter or sharing are needed.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal © Copyright 2017. 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 Kirkus Book Review
Garton continues his popular series about roly-poly Otter (I Am Otter, 2014, etc.) with this simple story about the joys of eating Easter candy and sharing (or not) with others.Otter (established as a female in previous stories) lives a childlike life with her white, adult owner, Otter Keeper, shown only in partial glimpses of legs or an arm. The other characters are Otter's beloved, inanimate toys: a pig, a giraffe, and a limp teddy bear with X's for eyes. On Easter morning, Otter gobbles up all the candy before breakfast even though she is told to share with her stuffed-animal friends. Feeling guilty, she transforms herself into the Easter Otter and prepares an elaborate Easter egg hunt. Candy-bright colors against white backgrounds capture Otter's antics and expressions, leading up to a detailed, double-page spread of Otter's backyard. The stuffed animals seem especially lifeless in this scene, lying flat on the ground until Otter drags them around to find the hidden eggs. In an unsatisfying conclusion, Otter states that the stuffed animals decided to "share" their eggs with her, and all the eggs are shown in a box labeled "Otter's Eggs." While this may be intended as wry humor, Otter's selfish attitude and self-satisfied declaration that she's "saved Easter" give this story a sour flavor rather than the lighthearted, humorous sweetness that made previous Otter stories successful. A holiday tie-in that fails to deliver. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
