Go, Otto, Go!

The Adventures of Otto

by David Milgrim

See Otto work. Work, work, work on a spaceship to take him home.

Since landing on Earth, Otto has made many friends, but what Otto wants most is to visit his family. Will Otto’s spaceship take him up, up, up, so he can go, go, go?

Genres: Picture Books, Robots, Childrens, Fiction, Space, Animals, Science Fiction

Paperback

First published May 24, 2016

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great first SF story - go Otto! Robots! Spaceships! Adventure! This book will appeal to small children who may already be showing a tendency for STEM. Simple to read with very fun art. A great book to read with a small child and then have them read it again on their own.

[Cheryl]

Very much phonics based, with plenty of words, and pictures, that reinforce each other. Perfect for the kid who just isn't catching on to how reading works and is starting to think books are evil.

But!
What's with the ending??
I often get homesick, but I don't want to just be all 'ok my new family & home are all I need, my past is gone.' And even if I did want to be like that I couldn't! Is it good to tell kids just to forget the past?

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story of Otto, a space robot, who wants to go home but when his rocket fails he makes a wonderful discovery nonetheless.

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book, space bot Otto tries to go home and visit his family but encounters some difficulties. In the end, he realizes that you can have families in both space and on Earth. The book is sure to engage young readers with its silly storyline and colorful pictures, as well as gain the attention of educators as a fantastic beginning reading option. This book could easily be incorporated into any Kindergarten or first grade classroom as both a read aloud or as a small group instructional book. Possible topics includes sight word practice, family structures, and working with CVC words.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful easy reader for those just beginning to read on their own! The short, repetitive story reminded me a lot of the format of the Dick and Jane books, except better because Otto is a robot and the book takes place in space! I really, really liked this one.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing how hilarious just a few words paired with excellent illustrations can be.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story. I had this read to me several times by those just beginning to read.

[Olivia Lullie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
This beginning reader book tells the story of a robot named Otto who wants to go back to his home in outer space. In order to get back home, Otto needs a spaceship, so he builds one. Otto's spaceship ends up crashing down, and he decides to stay on earth where his friends are.

Evaluation:
This book was very simplistic with some light humor and well developed illustrations. The text was simple and was well suited to be a beginning readers text with the short sentences and large font. The illustrations helped to tell the story, which is extremely important in beginning readers' text; it helps students use context clues when they are unsure about certain words. Overall, the text was well developed.

Teaching Idea:
I would use this book in a first grade classroom at the beginning of the year to help students with their reading. I would probably use it in a shared or guided reading setting and work with students on their site words because they fill most of the text. Before reading, I would do a word work activity that required the students to recognize the words that would be in the text in order to help them when reading. I would do a site word bingo activity with the students where they would each have a bingo card with the variety of site words. I would call a word out, and the students would put a marker down when they found the word. I think this would be a fun, engaging activity to do with the students that would help them with their reading of the book.

[Emily Revelas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is labeled a "Ready to Read, Level 1" book for the children who have learned their sight words and are ready to put them into sentences. In this book, a robot named Otto is trying to build a spaceship to go back home. This book uses sight words, except for the name Otto. The pictures are amazing and that is mostly how the students figure out what the sentences like "See Otto go here. See Otto go there." mean! In the end, Otto finds that Earth is his home and he loves it! This book is a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book for it's illustrations.

I rated this book 5 stars because my early readers would love it because of the illustrations and the robot theme! It is not a boring book about two kids playing on a slide, but something new and interesting. It also makes the children connect the words into a sentence with the illustrations to find out what Otto is doing! That is what learning to read is all about! Plus, there is a whole series to make the kids want to keep reading!!

I would use this book for my early readers in Kindergarten or first grade. I would introduce my students who were interested in this series to these books. I think it would be a fun and great way to get them started reading along with their sight word practice and review!

[Hannah Eudy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otto is a robot who longs to see his biological family but is very far away from them. He works to build a rocket but falls short, and stays on the planet he is already on. He learns that he has his family where he is; his friends! Another lesson that can be learned is that even if one work hard on a project, sometimes it does not turn out how it was expected. The pictures do a great job of conveying what is happening and contribute to the story, but I would have liked the story to be longer as I thoroughly enjoyed Otto’s adventures. After analyzing the story through the pictures, it does a wonderful job and many lessons can be learned through Otto’s adventures. The story line is fun, easy to follow, and has some hidden didactic messages which a kid might not recognize until later if they choose to revisit this story.

[Ryan Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Go, Otto, Go! is a very adorable children's book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I liked how it was about him wanting to go home and not giving up. I enjoyed that there were plenty of words and there were quality illustrations. It was written very easy for students to read and is a good book to use for phonics. This would definitely be a book that I would use in my classroom. The illustrations and writing pair very well together. The illustrations especially add so much more dimension to the story and I believe it would not be the same without them. My reasoning for making this four not five stars was because of the ending. It was really nothing special and I was expecting so much more out of it. Other than that, I thought the book was cute and glad that I was introduced to it.

[Ruby Velazquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Go, Otto, Go! Is such a cute book about a little robot and him finding his home. It’s a short picture book with very few words or actions on some of the pages. As we follow the story we learn about what Otto is doing and where he thinks he belongs or should go. I would use this book in my class for my beginning or struggling/hesitant readers. They will be able to use the book to associate their own understanding of what’s happening. They can make connections to their experiences as they can share a time they were building something. I think it will be a good way for them to practice relating to a book and not always feel like they are boring. This book in general, is so adorable as we learn that home is where the people we care about the most are and not where we think we belong.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story, Otto, a robot, longs to travel back to his planet. He decides to build a jet pack to help him get back home, but the jet pack misfires, and Otto is taken on a scary trip in the sky. He moves up and down and here and there until he finally crashes. Thankfully, he is able to find happiness in his new home.

This book is perfect for kindergarten and first grade children who are learning to read. The repetitive nature of the text helps these students predict the words that will come next, which helps the students see success at early stages of reading. This book also focuses on the illustrations. The text is very basic, whereas the illustrations tell the whole story. Without the illustrations, this story would not make sense.

[Isis Uribe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
Otto is a robot that looks for his home in a spaceship that he built. He goes to multiple locations until he crash lands and realizes he was home the whole time.

Activity:
For an activity, I could have cutouts of a spaceship and robots for the children to color and decorate how they like and provide a drawing for a representation of Otto's home. This could be posted throughout the classroom.

Citation:
Milgrim, D. (2016). Go, otto, go! (Simon Spotlight edition. ed., Ready-to-read. pre-level 1, rising star reader!). New York: Simon Spotlight.

[Kyle Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go, Otto, Go! by David Milgram is a funny story of a robot named Otto trying to make his way back home. This is an easy book to read for kids and is suitable for beginning readers. The humor in this book will keep kids engaged in reading and entertained. This book is not all humor. It conveys an important theme that anyone can take with them and apply to their own lives. The theme in this book is home is where you make it. The illustrations in this book are also done by Milgram and do a great job of giving the characters an identity and showing their emotions.

[Senecca Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is quite humorous but yet gives light to problems all people had gone through in their lives. The problem is that sometimes that people want to achieve something bigger and wanting to go after a certain thing while not being appreciated of what they got already. The lesson that the book conveys is that the needs you need in life are already close to you like home with family and friends. The illustrations are very cute with the robot and his rocket pack. Also, this book would be something I would relatively use for students practicing their reading skills.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is really cute buutttt the ending was unsatisfying.

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a little robot who sees the stars as his home. So he builds a rocket pack to get him into the sky. His friends create a sign that says, "Bye Bye Otto!" But as he gets into the air something goes wrong and he doesn't go up. He goes here, he goes there, but he doesn't go to the stars like he was aiming for. He's disappointed when the jetpack blows up and he's still in the place where he first started, but his friends tell him that where he's at is his home. This is when he realizes that he already has a home and shouldn't be trying to leave his friends.

My thoughts: The illustrations in this book are so cute! I really love the little robot that is supposed to be Otto, it's so cute. I also really like the message that this books is trying to convey. Otto, he feels like the place where he's at isn't his home and that he needs to leave to find his home. But he ends up still where he started and realizes that where he's at is his home. I believe that sometimes where your family is isn't always your home, and you can build a home outside of the one that you have with your family with people the people that become your friends.

Use in classroom: I would keep this book in my in-class library. I would also use is as a read-aloud. It's also perfect for younger grades to use to practice their reading skills because there isn't a lot of text in the book.

[McKenzie Creagan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Go, Otto, Go! was a pretty boring and breezy read for someone my age, but I can see how children would love this story about Otto and his spaceship. I would say that this book is aimed toward beginning readers because there are few words per page and there are many repetitive words. This would be a book that I would send home with a kindergarten or first grade student to read on their own to practice reading. The pictures within this book make it a more interesting read and children can experience the hardships that Otto experiences with his rocket throughout the book. Children can look at the pictures and get a better understanding of what is happening in the story or to receive some additional reading clues. Personally, I didn't enjoy this book but it would be a great tool for beginning readers. This would be the type of book that I might put in a book basket on the middle of a table in the classroom for children to pull out and read on their own time.

[Maria Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a simple beginner reader book perfect for young readers who are learning to read. This easy to read book has a simple plot and uses repetition of words throughout. Otto, the main character of the story is a robot that wants to go back to his home to visit his family. After he crafts his own spaceship he says goodbye to all of his animal friends on Earth and departs for home. However, his spacecraft malfunctions and crashes back onto planet Earth. He is greeted by his friends when he realizes that he is home and that there was no need for his to leave his friends behind. This is a short easy read for younger readers. My only issue with the book was that it could have had a clearer message at the end of the story. However, I do believe that making the book longer or more detailed would defeat the purpose of the simplicity of the book and therefore changing it to a more advanced read for slightly older children.

[Selena Richins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Go, Otto, Go! is a short picture book that is about a robot who is on Earth, but then realizes that he is homesick and wants to go visit his far away family. To do this he decides to to build a jet pack. It takes time to build this jet pack, and when he is ready to leave he takes off. But does he succeed? This book is very appropriate for young readers. The book includes short sentences all throughout. Also including illustrations that follow, and the font is a big size to make it easier for young readers to follow. I think that the storyline is short and simple, and very straight to the point. It is possible for young readers to understand the plot right away. I would use this in a classroom as an option for my library in my classroom. This way students can decide if they want to read it. Another way I could use this in my classroom is by having the readers who are in lower level reading groups, read it. It is a perfect book to start off with for struggling readers.

[Madison Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this beginning level reading book, Otto comes to earth and meets lots of new friends. However, Otto misses his family and spends much time trying to build his way back home. Otto works and works very hard to build a rocket and head back home. When it comes time to head back home, Otto says goodbye to all of his friends, and head around the world as his rocket shoots out of control. Otto ends up right where he took off, understanding now that his friends on earth are now his family. The language within this book is very repetitive, and this will help ELL or beginning readers grasp an understanding of reading and the repeating words within this book. This is a very simple story, yet David Milgrim does a great job telling such a deep and meaningful story, that children could grasp and understand. This book would be a great beginning level reading book.

[Lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cute picture book tells the story of a space robot who lands on Earth, and makes new friends. However, when he wants to go home on his rocket, he encounters a problem! This book is great for students who are just learning to read as it has lots of repetitive words and is phonics based. The illustrations also enforce the text, making it easier for students to comprehend the story and learn the words by using the pictures. However, I wasn't a fan of the ending. It seemed odd that this little robot would be just fine with not going home again to see his family and friends in space. That being said, I would keep this book in the classroom library for K-1st grade for free reading time. It would be a good choice for readers who are interested in robots and space. The simple words and repetitiveness make the book a good choice for practice.

[Mackenzie Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Go Otto go is a book that is perfect for beginning readers. It explains how Otto goes through his life as a robot. He wants to travel to mars where he thinks he is from. He builds a spaceship in hopes that will allow him to travel to where he can find his family. He tries his absolute best to get off the ground and be able to fly but the spaceship does not last long at all before crashing and breaking down. Once the spaceship crashes he find that he has family where he is and does not need to travel in hopes to find his family. Family was right where he was. No family does not have to look the same from them to be considered family. Family is much more then blood related. This is a good book for young readers to read because it teaches you that family and friend will always be there when you need them.

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Go, Otto, Go! was such a great book to read, I can see how the young readers will enjoy this cute story. The book is about Otto, a robot that makes a spaceship for him to make it home. He has his friends, but he misses his family that he wants to go back home. The book follows Otto's journey from making the spaceship, to how his journey went as he took off. The book is written in short sentences, which will be easy for the readers to read. It is also repetitive, so it will most likely help students to improve their reading fluency. Despite the book was simply written, the message towards the end was so meaningful. Who knew, sometimes, you may have another family right next to you that deeply cares and understand you? I would love to use this book in my future classroom, especially when I teach for younger grades.

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Go, Otto, Go! Is a simple and cute book that follows a robot trying to get home. This book is definitely meant for a younger audience. The book has one to two words per page, however the illustrations are very detailed and cute. I had a big problem with this book. I understand it meant for a younger audience however I really didn’t like the message at the end. Otto is trying to get home so he creates a rocket to get home to his family. He doesn’t get home and stays where he is at. I liked that he found friends that were like his family but end the end they are not his family. What message does that send to kids? Try really hard but still fail but it’s okay because you got 2nd place family. Cute story but a horrible ending.

[Daniela Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Go, Otto, Go! is about a little robot named Otto who is trying to go home. He makes himself a little rocket ship to take him home, but when he tries to take off something goes wrong and he isn't able to leave the planet. However, Otto isn't upset because he realizes that he is already home with all of his friends. I found the book to be very cute, and I would definitely use the book in a kindergarten class. I would use the book for multiple reasons, first I would use it as an easy reader that my students could read to me. I would also use the book as an introduction to an art/writing project. I would have the students draw for me their homes, and then I would have them write to me about their homes. As part of the project I would also have them tell me who lives with them. This project is a great way for me as a teacher to gain information about my student's personal life, and will give me a better understanding of what they deal with outside of the classroom.

[Emily Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Picture books - Easy-to-Read Book
Awards: Geisel Honor Book
Audience: PreSchool - Kindergarten
A. This is an easy-to-read book because there is limited text on each page with illustrations to add meaning to the story. The text is simplified sight words for students who are just starting to read on their own.
B. Shape plays a significant role in these illustrations. Otto is a robot so he is drawn with different sized rectangles and ovals. Throughout the pages there are shapes that children would recognize such as moon, stars, a rocket, and more.
C. I would use this as a story to work on reading with either a small group or one-on-one. I would have the students read the story out loud so I could monitor their accuracy of reading.
D. What did Otto make? A rocket

[Taylor Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Otto tries to build a rocket so he could go home. Go,Otto,Go is a good book for beginner readers since there are only a few words per page and they are not complex. The illustrations help out as well if the reader does not understand what a word is they can look at the illustrations to figure it out. I thought the book was okay and it was a little boring to read since it was really easy. However, I would see me using this book in a kindergarten or preschool class to help teach the students about hard work since Otto built an entire rocket so he could go home. Also it’s a good book to teach sight words since the illustrations help the reader understand what the words mean.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy reader about a robot who builds a rocket to go home, but the rocket doesn't work quite as planned.

Easy readers are not known for having much comedy or plot or anything beyond easy to read words. This one features some cute and unique illustrations (they are done colored woodcut style). And the plot has a surprising amount of heart in it's ending, along with some humorous twists and turns getting there. It made me smile. Gotta keep a look out for more Otto books. Pick this one up for your favorite little reader who is just starting out, or for kids learning directional words.