Review by Booklist Review
Otto is, by all accounts, an exemplary yeti, scaling mountains and braving the cold. But Otto is harboring a secret: he really just wants to dance. Alas, yetis are not known for their musical moves, and any attempt has ended in disaster. When a happy accident drops him into the middle of a unicorn dance audition, he screws up his courage and takes the chance. It's a flop, and a dejected Otto is sure that his dreams are dashed. Just when all seems lost, a stage accident gives Otto a chance to demonstrate his fancy footwork, ultimately saving the day, earning a place on the stage, and bringing the entire mythical-creature community together in a joyful finale. The sweet, silly story revels in individuality and determination. Energetic illustrations are packed with slapstick humor and darling detail, with one memorable spread turned on its side to better demonstrate Otto's graceful vertical rescue mission. Eagle-eyed readers will notice that Otto's bravery opens up the troupe to other kinds of fantastical fauna, too. An adorable adventure that's anything but abominable.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Otto, a hairy white yeti with gangly limbs, can only dream of dancing like nobody's watching. Ostensibly "the perfect abominable snowman," debut creator Lau writes, he must keep his passion under wraps or risk a straight-up ROFL from his tough yeti pals. When Otto stumbles upon a dance rehearsal led by unicorns (the troupe also includes a mermaid, a bear, and a Medusa-like figure), it seems he's at last discovered his outlet--until the imperious unicorn teacher takes one look at his anxious, clunky moves and declares, "That. Was. Abominable." But Otto's natural athleticism proves a saving grace when he catches a tumbling unicorn member of the tech crew, preventing a potentially career-ending fall. The crowd goes wild, the two become headliners of the "Sparkle Friends" troupe, and Otto's yeti pals clamor to join the act. Digital cartooning with scribble and spatter textures has an appropriately balletic line that honors both the comedy of the premise and Otto's heartfelt pursuit--suggesting that finding one's troupe and having the courage to be authentically oneself is snow joke. Ages 4--8. Agent: Alexandra Levick, Writers House. (Nov.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
This rollicking slapstick-packed tale stars Otto, a yeti who excels at being a courageous abominable snowman but secretly longs to dance -- a dream yetis do not ordinarily pursue. In an amusing opening, Lau shows Otto begrudgingly scaling a treacherous mountain and saving his terrified yeti peers from a fearsome mouse. He might be amazing, but he looks miserable. Otto truly comes to life only when he is alone, dancing and whooshing with blissful grace, smiling contentedly. However, when Otto dances in front of others, they laugh and he stumbles. One particularly dramatic tumble down a hill lands him near a stage where a unicorn dance company rehearses. Filled with artistic inspiration, Otto clumsily leaps onto the stage, much to the chagrin of the haughty unicorn choreographer. However, a nifty plot development requires Otto to save the day. With her colorful, fluid digital illustrations, Lau creates a delightful, comical world where creatures bound across the page with abandon. Her use of lively graphic-novel-style panels and speech bubbles lends urgency to the fast-paced tale. There's a supporting fantastical cast, including Medusa, who has a bunch of quipping snakes on her head. When Otto achieves his dreams, albeit haphazardly, readers cannot help but shout, "Bravo!" Brian E. WilsonJanuary/February 2026 p.62 (c) Copyright 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
Despite his tough-guy exterior, an abominable snowman has a secret passion for dance. Otto deftly ascends mountains, endures fiercely frigid weather, and saves his friends from fearsome beasts. But what he really enjoys doing is dancing. He's never seen a fellow yeti dance, so he indulges himself only in the privacy of home: "Dancing felt too big and shiny to ever happen to him." Sometimes, the urge to twirl or pirouette slips out while Otto's doing yeti things with his pals, but it always ends badly. One day he stumbles and falls down the mountain and right into the middle of a unicorn dance audition. Otto decides to try out, but the graceful unicorns are put off by his pungent odor and wild dance moves, and the director pronounces his audition "abominable." As Otto walks away in disgrace, the lighting designer falls from the catwalk. Otto leaps up to save him, showing off his elegant moves in the process. Everyone wants to see him perform again, even Otto's rough-and-tumble yeti buddies, who were drawn by the commotion. Books about yetis and unicorns are increasingly popular, and Lau's debut holds its own in a crowded field. Kids with secret hobbies of their own will see themselves in the determined Otto and will cheer as he succeeds. Lau's digitally created illustrations are cartoony, snowy, and full of pep. A shaggy and silly story of self-discovery.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
