This story was inspired by a program of a Monterey Bay Aquarium in Los Angeles to save sea otters that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers until they are ready to be released back into the wild.
When Odder is very little pup she is orphaned. Humans find her and bring her back to the aquarium. Odder is put into a pool with pieces from the ocean like her home. She knows these strange animals who are feeding her are kind. As time passes, she is moved to an outdoor pool where her human teachers help her learn to groom herself, dig for crabs and ‘use her tummy as a table’. She even learns to crack open mussels.
One day she is carried to a ‘great cold place, where the waves never seemed to stop talking’. One of her carers swims beside her and she begins to play. Each time she visits the ocean, she is carried back to her little pool. One day as she is playing in the waves, she spots wild otters frolicking in the distance. This is her time. She is welcomed by the otters, learning from them and playing with joy. But dangers lurk in the depths.
This is a special story adapted from the book of the same name for older readers that I would also highly recommend. In this picture book edition Charles Santoso’s lends his expressive and warm illustrations to tell Odder’s story pulling even further on our heartstrings. Beautifully produced, it’s a very engaging and uplifting story and a testament to the wonderful work of wildlife carers.
Reviewed by Emily Ross
Age Guide 5+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Katherine Applegate is the Newbery Medal-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for young readers, including The One and Only Ivan, wishtree, Crenshaw, the Endling series, the Roscoe Riley Rules chapter books series, and the Animorphs series.
She lives with her husband, who writes as the author Michael Grant, and their children in California.
Visit Katherine Applegate’s website
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Charles Santoso loves drawing little things in his little journal and dreaming about funny, wondrous stories. He gathers inspiration from his childhood memories and curiosities he discovers in his everyday travels.
He has illustrated several picture books abd worked at Animal Logic as a concept artist/art director and was involved in various animated feature film and tv commercial projects.
Charles Santoso’s work has been exhibited in Sydney and also internationally in North America and France.
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