Utterly Otterly Day

PreSLittle Otter speeds through his day at breakneck pace, from the moment he wakes up and rouses his sleepy family to his spine-tingling sunset escape from a hungry cougar. In between, he eludes a falling tree, an eagle, a snapping turtle, and an angry fisherman. After each escape, he tells himself that "he's a big otter now," and swims away with typical preschooler bravado. His close call with the cougar leaves him shaken, however, and he retreats to the safety and comfort of the den. As he accepts some parental snuggles, he admits that "He needs his family/no matter how big he grows." Alliteration and onomatopoeic phrases ("whippidy, slippiddy," "swishily swashily") combine to give a sense of the hustle and bustle of Little Otter's day. Sketchy watercolor drawings with multiple perspectives lend a feeling of constant movement, while the recurring image of a yellow butterfly ties the story together. As Little Otter falls asleep, he dreams of being carried away by a swarm of them, demonstrating that he is bold even in his sleep. Though a few of the illustrations are unclear, and the book is a bit too long to maintain its breathless pace, Little Otter is a likable hero with familiar childlike traits. Additionally, there is just enough information about otters to whet readers' appetite for further research."Rachael Vilmar, Eastern Shore Regional Library, Salisbury, MD" Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.