Otis and the Kittens

August 8, 2016
Otis the tractor turns first responder when a barn fire imperils a family of kittens. Racing into the barn with a “putt putt puttedy chuff,” Otis saves the kittens in short order, but after he plunges through the burning floor, it’s up to the barn animals to become the rescuers. Long creates a powerful sense of suspense and danger as charcoal smoke gathers in the sky and bright flames lick the beams of the barn as Otis goes to work, but bravery, loyalty, and gritty determination are the real stars of the story—traits that Otis and his animal friends have in ample supply. Ages 4–8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

June 15, 2016
When there's an emergency on the farm, can friendly tractor Otis save the day?The farm hasn't seen rain in a while, but there's still plenty of work to do. Otis and the farmhands spend their days baling hay in the hot sun and loading it into the barn. Otis wants to rest, but his friend the bull wants to play tug of war. All the barnyard animals get into the game (though Otis is not particularly competitive, just enjoying his friends). Then they see a swirl of smoke in the sky. The barn's on fire, and there's a distressed cat in the window. "With a putt puff puttedy chuff," Otis rushes in. Otis carries the cat's kittens to safety...but mama cat indicates one's missing. He successfully rescues the last, but when the floor collapses, he's trapped. The firefighters arrive and, because of the drought, decide to let the barn burn. Otis' animal friends take matters into their own hooves, bills, and paws and use their tug-of-war teamwork to rescue the little tractor. Long's seventh bucolic tale of an antique tractor with a smiling face and a good heart will please the little chuffer's many fans. The dynamic, fluid illustrations with a retro-rural vibe bring to mind Norman Rockwell's America with a Sunday comics spin. The theme of teamwork played out several times through the tale is communicated as simply as the tale itself. Keep on puffin', Otis! (Picture book. 4-8)

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Starred review from September 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-Longtime fans and newbies alike will enjoy Otis the tractor's latest adventure. It's a particularly hot and dry summer in the valley. Otis and his animal friends work hard on the farm, but they still have time for their favorite game, tug-of-war. Their tugging skills save the day when Otis is trapped in a burning barn while rescuing a litter of helpless, big-eyed kittens. As always, perseverance, teamwork, and a heart of gold pay off for Otis and his friends. When read aloud, the text flows off the tongue with sounds ("putt puff putted chuff") and words ("The floor collapsed and Otis plunged to the darkness below") that extend the imagery created in the attractive gouache and pencil illustrations. The compositions make great use of perspective and motion and are expertly laid out to pull the eye to the important characters and action. The painterly images use a nostalgic palette of grays, creamy yellows, rusty oranges, and Otis's signature tractor red. There are wonderful textured details (scratchy straw, smooth chrome) that bring the story to life. VERDICT This first purchase is the perfect lapsit read-aloud, combining the ever-popular subjects of tractors, farm animals, and firefighters.-Amy Seto Forrester, Denver Public Library

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