Otter Goes to School

May 9, 2016
After learning that her adult Otter Keeper did all his best learning at school, Otter knows exactly what to do: start a school of her own. She’ll be the teacher, naturally, which requires a costume change, complete with a “special teacher dress,” a “beautiful teacher purse,” and a “friendly teacher face.” In math class, Otter writes down all the numbers she knows (“No one could work out what to do after that. So everyone just took turns holding the calculator”), and students Giraffe and Pig earn gold stars for excellence. Finding Teddy’s talents takes a bit more work, but by book’s end all of the characters are assured of their scholastic (and teaching) abilities. As in Otter’s previous books, Garton’s wry sense of humor and richly detailed artwork generate a steady steam of laughs. Ages 4–8. Agent: Brooks Sherman, Bent Agency.

August 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-Fans of Otter will be pleased to see the pint-size creature going on a new escapade. While her guardian, Otter Keeper, is at work, Otter dresses up as a teacher and decides to school her stuffed toys. Giraffe excels at math, and Pig shows off his talents during music class, but what about Teddy, Otter's stalwart companion? When Otter realizes that Teddy feels like he isn't good at anything, her spirits sag-until Otter Keeper encourages her to have more faith in herself as an educator. Garton employs mild pastel colors and plenty of white space, giving his digitally rendered illustrations a soft, gentle quality. Otter herself is utterly charming, and images of her sporting her teaching outfit, complete with glasses and a pearl necklace, will have kids and adults cooing with delight. However, the tone never veers toward the cloying, and there's genuine wit that comes from the contrast between Otter's self-assured narration and the reality of the situation. Adults will appreciate Garton's wry sensibility as he spoofs well-known moments of the school routine (taking on the role of the weepy parent before class begins, Otter muses, "I made sure everyone was settled in, and then I said good-bye. This part was a bit sad."). Beneath the humor, though, there's a true understanding of children's fears, and Garton offers simple but sincere reassurance. VERDICT A wonderful storytime offering to soothe back-to-school blues; Otter devotees and newcomers will savor this one.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2016
Otter is back, and she knows some "people who aren't as clever as they could be," so it's off to school.After all, attending school is how Otter Keeper learned so many things. So, once he leaves for work, Otter gets everyone ready, brushing Giraffe's, Teddy's, and Pig's teeth, getting backpacks and lunches ready, and getting everyone into the car--one of those ubiquitous red and yellow plastic toy ones; Pig and the lunch box are strapped to the roof. Otter settles everyone at school and says goodbye. "This part was a bit sad." But luckily, they have "the best teacher ever": Otter herself, in her teacher dress and red glasses. Each of her students excels at something and receives gold star stickers, except for Teddy--he's not good at anything, and Otter feels like a failure as a teacher. (Hilariously, the illustrations show the battered, loved-to-flatness Teddy prone on the floor for most of the day.) But Otter Keeper (a blond, white adult) has some good advice when he gets home--everyone's good at something; you just have to find it. Luckily, Teddy does in the last lesson of the day. Garton's Otter is adorably roly-poly and just realistic enough to differentiate her from her stuffed pupils, and her droll expressions are spot-on.What adventure will Otter have next? (Picture book. 4-8)

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