Odder: An Otter's story by Katherine Applegate illustrated by Charles Santoso

Many older readers will have met Odder via the verse novel with the same title by Katherine Applegate. That book has 270 pages. It is fairly easy to read because of the format but the intended audience is readers aged 9+.  Now we also have Odder: An Otter's story which is a picture book for readers aged 5+.  Huge thanks to University of Queensland Press for sending an advance copy.

Look at the cover of this new picture book - it is sure to appeal to all young readers. How can anyone resist this sweet little sea otter - she seems to be looking straight at the reader on the cover inviting you to explore her story. Then there is the added bonus that this book is a based on a true story. Children are always fascinated by true animal stories. Odder: An otter's story is a book you should certainly consider adding to your school library collection. Older readers might like to borrow the verse novel and the picture book. I would be keen to display them side by side in the library. Reading a verse novel can be quite an emotional experience. It is so impressive that, even with the pared back text, Katherine Applegate gives her readers of this picture book version beautiful insights into the emotions of little Odder.

I did a brief comparison of the two texts - of course the picture book story is very much abridged. 

Verse Novel:

page 23 "Her mother called her 'Odder' from the moment she was born. Something about the way the little pup never settled, something about the way her eyes were always full of questions."

Picture Book:

page one "They call her 'Odder' from the moment she is born. Something about the way the little pup never settles, something about the way her eyes are full of questions."

Odder is saved by humans, they teach her the skills her mother would have passed on about swimming, and grooming and eating crabs. Eventually Odder is released back into the ocean but sadly she is attacked by a shark. Luckily, she survives and is rescued again.

"This time, though, she will never go back to the ocean. The shark bite has forever changed her. She can no longer move the way she was meant to move. She can no longer play the way she was meant to play." 

But there is something important Odder can do. Another pup has been rescued. The little pup is so helpless.

"Little one,' Odder whispers, 'I will teach you how to crack open crabs, and fluff up your fur, and use your tummy as a table.' ... 'But most of all, silly minnow, I am going to teach you how to play."

Bookseller blurb: Meet Odder, the Queen of Play! She twists, darts, weaves, and rolls, leaving frothy trails behind her. Why just somersault when you can triple-doughnut? Why dive when you can dazzle? Odder spends her days playing underwater and learning from her mother, until a storm changes everything and she is rescued by humans. Based on Katherine Applegate's bestselling novel, this lyrical story, inspired by a true programme pairing orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers, explores resilience, healing, and the vital role of play through the eyes of one of nature’s most beloved creatures.

In the US this picture book is published by Macmillan. 

I previously read and loved Odder - the verse novel. It spent over 52 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Now University of Queensland Press have acquired the rights to Odder - the picture book edition.  Here is a quote from their Instagram page:

UQP is thrilled to announce that we've acquired the picture book edition of ‘Odder: An Otter's Story’ by Newbery Medallist Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Charles Santoso. Adapted from the middle-grade verse novel of the same title, the story follows a playful sea otter pup named Odder whose life is turned upside down when she is separated from her mother during a storm. It is a poetic and heartwarming tale of resilience, healing and wildlife conservation.⁠ UQP has acquired ANZ rights and will publish in May 2025.⁠

US cover

In my blog post about the original verse novel I said: The character of little Odder is sure to linger with you long after reading this warm-hearted story. I think this book would be terrific to read aloud or you could give it to any animal lover aged 9+. One powerful aspect of this storytelling is the way Katherine Applegate uses point of view. As a reader you really are right inside the head, heart and eyes of the young otter called Odder.

Here is the UK cover of the original verse novel:

UK cover

You are sure to be familiar with other splendid books by Katherine Applegate - if you click on the label assigned to this post you can read many of her other books.

Wishtree

Click here for a link to my blog post about the books in the Ivan series

Dogtown (book one); Mouse and his dog (book two)

Odder by Katherine Applegate illustrated by Charles Santoso

Odder doesn't remember much

about her mother.

Pups are with their moms

for five months or so,

a year at most,

but Odder wasn't 

that lucky.

Still, she does recall

one piece of advice her mother

used to repeat:

Stay away from sharks.

Stay away from humans.

Stay away from all

that you don't understand.

Odder is a sea otter with a huge personality and a thirst for an adventurous life. But she could never have anticipated the adventures she will have in her life, the new friends, the things she will learn about the ways of the world and her connection with humans.

In her first adventure something happens to her mum. Odder is just a pup and she is rescued by the staff of an aquarium in California who run a sea otter research and conservation program. With their care and training she is taught how to be an otter - things her mother would have taught her if their time together had not been caught short. When Odder is released into the sea things go well at first but one day, as she is exploring with her friend Kairi, she goes a little too far and encounters a shark. Once again she is rescued and her destiny changes.

Rich, naturalistic details will delight lovers of marine life. Kirkus review

You can hear a video interview by Colby Sharp with Katherine Applegate and a written interview with Children's Book Review. I also found an interview with The School Library Journal.

Odder is a verse novel by Katherine Applegate. You know I adore verse novels. The character of little Odder is sure to linger with you long after reading this warm-hearted story. I think this book would be terrific to read aloud or you could give it to any animal lover aged 9+. One powerful aspect of this storytelling is the way Katherine Applegate uses point of view. As a reader you really are right inside the head, heart and eyes of the young otter called Odder.  If you want to explore other books which are told using the form of a verse novel there is a link on my sidebar. 

One of the books I most often recommend and rave about is another book by Katherine Applegate - Wishtree (not a verse novel) but instead a book. a must read title for adults and children hence the two different covers.

Katherine Applegate is also the author of these breathtaking books -  The One and Only Ivan and sequels, and the Endling series:

The one and only Ivan

The One and Only Bob

Endling the Last

Endling the first

Ivan the remarkable tree story

Where the Sea meets the Sky by Peter Bently illustrated by Riko Sekiguchi

This is not a new story - a youngster wants to "stretch his or her legs" and explore the world or at least the world away from mum or dad. The youngster is curious. The journey has dangers but the ending is warm and reassuring. What sets this book apart is the skilful rhyming text and the colourful almost tactile illustrations.

Sophie, a sea otter, asks her mum about the place "where the sea meets the sky". Her mother explains that the horizon is a place that no one can reach and "no one should try".  But Sophie sees a lighthouse in the distance. She is sure her mother is wrong. She swims across to the lighthouse which seems to be standing where the sea meets the sky but on arrival she discovers the edge of sea is still miles away. Sophie continues on her journey asking for advice from the walrus and a whale. She swims on and on and night falls and a huge ocean liner almost runs her over. At that moment her mother arrives. 

"But suddenly - somebody pulled her aside.

The monster sailed past and Sophie soon saw

Just who had saved her by grabbing her paw.

Sophie said, 'How did you know where to come?'

'I just asked a whale and a walrus,' said Mum.

'They said a brave sea otter came swimming by ...

on her way to the place where the sea meets the sky."

The way other sea creatures share Sophie's journey with her mum reminded me of Tiddler by Julia Donaldson.  Peter Bently is the author of over 30 books. Where the Sea meets the Sky is a debut picture book for Riko Sekiguchi. She is certainly a talent to watch. 

Here is the art from the title page:

I would pair this book with:

Little Home Bird

Ivanhoe Swift left home at Six

The Blue Songbird