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Otter
Otter Goes to School
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Picture Books (2016)Otter—the irrepressible picture book character from I Am Otter, Otter in Space, and Otter Loves Halloween!, sure to be adored by fans of Llama Llama—goes to school for the first time!
In Otter Goes to School, Otter starts her own school for Teddy, Giraffe, and the rest of her friends. They have a great teacher and do lots of fun things together . . . until Teddy says he doesn’t like school anymore. Luckily, Otter Keeper comes to the rescue and teaches everyone the best lesson of all!
In Otter Goes to School, Otter starts her own school for Teddy, Giraffe, and the rest of her friends. They have a great teacher and do lots of fun things together . . . until Teddy says he doesn’t like school anymore. Luckily, Otter Keeper comes to the rescue and teaches everyone the best lesson of all!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published June 14, 2016
12 people are currently reading
1196 people want to read
About the author
Sam Garton
14 books161 followersI’m Sam, I’m 33 and I live in Wokingham! I have a degree in illustration and I spend most of my time drawing Otters whilst generally making a mess and thinking about why I still haven’t bought a kitten. I like putting inappropriate sweets in the freezer (Jelly tots) and my favourite film is Homeward bound. I wish I looked cool wearing headbands but I don’t. Oh and I’m rubbish at looking after house plants.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
January 13, 2023
This picture book looks like an ordinary "back to school" offering, but it is much more. I'm so glad I decided to take a look inside. The art is charming and evocative, the prose is marvelously witty, and the book has a great message that fits within the story and doesn't come off as preachy. This book is magnificent. I read hundreds of picture books a year through my library job, but this is the only one I've read three times in one day. It's adorable.
November 16, 2016
Each year I and my family read and rate all the Goodreads picture book nominees. This one is nominated for 2016. I make a few comments and then add their separate ratings and a comment. There's 20 (15 first round and 5 new ones for the semi-final round) and this is the nineteenth being rated, whew. My rating might be somewhat influenced by the family, naturally. I have to admit though, that Garton's art--as nice a guy as he seems to be--could never get 4 starts or above for me. Too cutesy. I know, I know, it is for little ones, and they love it, but still, {grimace emoticon} here. Kids liked it a lot, which Garton cares about more than their old man's review.
The story is one of a series about Otter, and is basically a pretty good story about finding your strengths and learning through them. It's a story about learning, and maybe a even a story about schooling. 3 1/2 stars from me, which I actually round down, sort of meanly. But I just can't!
Tara (my wife): 3 stars. Seems like kids would like this.
Harry (11): 5 stars. FUNNY. I like the pig. [okay, Harry, I like the pig, too; staring all the time, with those marble eyes. . .]
Hank (10): 4 stars. I liked how he played with the stuffed animals and talked with them!
Lyra (9): 4 1/2 stars. Teddy learns something! I love Teddy! [and I love this comment, too, Lyra. :)]
The story is one of a series about Otter, and is basically a pretty good story about finding your strengths and learning through them. It's a story about learning, and maybe a even a story about schooling. 3 1/2 stars from me, which I actually round down, sort of meanly. But I just can't!
Tara (my wife): 3 stars. Seems like kids would like this.
Harry (11): 5 stars. FUNNY. I like the pig. [okay, Harry, I like the pig, too; staring all the time, with those marble eyes. . .]
Hank (10): 4 stars. I liked how he played with the stuffed animals and talked with them!
Lyra (9): 4 1/2 stars. Teddy learns something! I love Teddy! [and I love this comment, too, Lyra. :)]
November 18, 2016
I love the bright, detailed illustrations. Otter's so cute and funny. (:
October 15, 2017
How cute is this book?????? I checked this out of the library for my youngest who will be starting Kindergarten in September. Otter wants to go to school (my daughter doesn't). She sets up a kindergarten with all of her toy friends. They do math,they do music, they do reading.... but Otter doesn't feel like she's good at anything. Lucky for her, at the end of the day Otter Keeper teaches her that everyone is good at something. Very sweet pictures, very sweet ending. My absolute favorite part was the stars Otter gave to her "students". It reminded me very much of how a certain daughter of mine used to decorate her baby sister with stickers......all over her head. I laughed out loud. I can see how this ended up a contender for the GR choice awards this year. Recommended to all of my friends with little ones :-)
July 15, 2016
YAY! Otter's new book is here, and it's the best one yet. This time Otter sets up a school (because she knows some people who aren't as clever as they could be) and everyone gets gold stars. Except Teddy... And then Otter herself learns an important lesson. The art just keeps getting better, and Otter herself is as funny as ever.
July 19, 2016
I know a bunch of kindergarteners who will want to see this when it comes out. Love the twist at the end.
July 16, 2016
Adorable as always!
August 29, 2017
This is a cute picture book to share with young children who are eager to go to school. Kids with great imaginations who like to "play school" will definitely be able to relate to this story about little Otter who decides to run a school for his friends. Whimsically detailed digital illustrations make this a nice book for a primary bookshelf.
July 31, 2017
This is another in the Otter series of children's books, and unlike the last Otter book I tried, I found this one to be a very charming, adorable standalone. The reader needs no background knowledge of the author's blog (I Am Otter: The Unheard Ramblings of a Modern Day Domestic Otter) to follow the story; there's no missing context here whatsoever. All we've got is an adorable story about an otter who, upon learning about the existence of a place called "school", decides to play classroom with her toys. It's a really cute little read perfect for a child who's getting close to the age of going to school for the first time. I definitely recommend it!
If you like my reviews, you may want to check out my book blog, Amara's Eden! Otter Goes to School was reviewed as part of a picture book mini-review round-up that can be read in its entirety here.
If you like my reviews, you may want to check out my book blog, Amara's Eden! Otter Goes to School was reviewed as part of a picture book mini-review round-up that can be read in its entirety here.
November 10, 2016
Garton, Sam Otter Goes to School. PICTURE BOOK. Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins), 2016. $17.99. Content: G.
When Otter finds out that her keeper became smart because of school, she decides her stuffed animals should also have an education. And who better to be their teacher but Otter herself? Things don't go according to plan, however; one of Otter's students feels like a failure, and so does Otter. How can she show the class that nobody is good at everything, but everybody is good at something?
This has to be one of my favorite introduction-to-school books. The pictures are adorable, and some of the wording makes me chuckle even after repeated reads. I also appreciate the fact that, while it's not an everybody-gets-a-trophy sort of book, it is an everybody-has-a-talent one. It would make a positive read-aloud for a class's beginning-of-the-year curriculum.
Pre-K, EL (K-3) -- ESSENTIAL. Reviewed by Sydney G., Teacher/Librarian
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
When Otter finds out that her keeper became smart because of school, she decides her stuffed animals should also have an education. And who better to be their teacher but Otter herself? Things don't go according to plan, however; one of Otter's students feels like a failure, and so does Otter. How can she show the class that nobody is good at everything, but everybody is good at something?
This has to be one of my favorite introduction-to-school books. The pictures are adorable, and some of the wording makes me chuckle even after repeated reads. I also appreciate the fact that, while it's not an everybody-gets-a-trophy sort of book, it is an everybody-has-a-talent one. It would make a positive read-aloud for a class's beginning-of-the-year curriculum.
Pre-K, EL (K-3) -- ESSENTIAL. Reviewed by Sydney G., Teacher/Librarian
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
November 19, 2016
"At school you learn a lot and get really clever. School is why Otter Keeper is good at so many things and why he hardly ever makes spelling mistakes."
Otter decides he wants to start his own school for "people who weren't as clever as they could be." Giraffe is good at math, Pig is good at music, but Teddy is sad because all the other students are better at him at everything. This is a job too difficult for Otter, so she waits for Otter Keeper to come home to help her solve the problem. It's then she discovers that everyone is good at something.
Adorable illustrations with a very poignant message for young students. Way to go, Otter!
Otter decides he wants to start his own school for "people who weren't as clever as they could be." Giraffe is good at math, Pig is good at music, but Teddy is sad because all the other students are better at him at everything. This is a job too difficult for Otter, so she waits for Otter Keeper to come home to help her solve the problem. It's then she discovers that everyone is good at something.
Adorable illustrations with a very poignant message for young students. Way to go, Otter!
June 30, 2016
Cuteness overload. Picture book written for kids ages 4-8 but will be appreciated by anyone who isn't dead. Otter decides to start her own school for Teddy, Giraffe, and the rest of her friends. It was fun for all until Teddy couldn't figure out anything he was good at and a parent-teacher conference was called to save the day. Take a look at the necklace Otter wears when she is teaching...a dead ringer for the one my teacher Mom wore every day to school. How'd you know, Garton?
May 17, 2018
Everybody is good at something, the key is finding what you are good at... great life lesson for children to learn from a sweet little otter! I love the illustrators use of expression, such determination on Otters face. LOVE THESE BOOKS! Did you know there is a website? There is... it has amazing little Otter inventions that protect her from spiders and such... just amazing. Please write more.
November 12, 2016
Otter is like a precocious child and does things like a child as in this book plays school with the other stuffed toys in the home and Otter has a personality that is like a human child. He learns that school is where you become smarter.
December 27, 2015
This is a sweet and funny story about an otter, who learns what school is/what it means to him. I laughed through almost every page.
August 17, 2016
A little twist on the typical school story with enough heart to soften any fears about not being good enough at school. Gold stars for Sam Garton.
July 12, 2017
When Otter learns that Otter Keeper became "clever" through going to school, Otter decided to take all of his friends to their own school. Otter and his toy friends spend the day trying to learn, have fun, and figure out all of the things they are all good at.
This is another story of Otters cute hijinks.
As a math teacher, I particularly liked the toys' interactions with a calculator throughout the story.
The illustrations were also, yet again, so beautiful. There was one particular picture of Otter waiting for Otter Keeper outside on their front steps and you can see down their street and I gasped out loud when I turned the page because it was so gorgeous.
We love Otter! Keep them coming please!
This is another story of Otters cute hijinks.
As a math teacher, I particularly liked the toys' interactions with a calculator throughout the story.
The illustrations were also, yet again, so beautiful. There was one particular picture of Otter waiting for Otter Keeper outside on their front steps and you can see down their street and I gasped out loud when I turned the page because it was so gorgeous.
We love Otter! Keep them coming please!
July 22, 2017
I can't get over how cute this otter is. Story is very cute and the otter is absolutely prescious.
February 20, 2018
Seems like you might have more of an affinity for Otter if you’d read more in this series. I’m just not sure reading this one was good enough for me to want to pickup anymore.
February 23, 2019
Darling!
March 9, 2023
Otterly adorable!
May 17, 2018
Otter proves to be a brilliant teacher in this little gem. May I request that Otter go to the library on her next adventure?
March 3, 2017
At the beginning of the book otter decides he wants to be like his caretaker and teach. so he starts a school and leads his class as their otter teacher. but during the coarse of the book the X-eyed bear feels down because he isn't good at anything, until the class gets to the right lesson for bear to shine and show off his skill.
I love this book, it sends a great message to kids to follow their dreams. it also shows that everyone has something their good at.
I could use this book in my class to show them that every one has something their good at. that not every one is good at the same things, but that we all have a specific talent.
I love this book, it sends a great message to kids to follow their dreams. it also shows that everyone has something their good at.
I could use this book in my class to show them that every one has something their good at. that not every one is good at the same things, but that we all have a specific talent.
March 3, 2017
In this story Otter wants to start her own school because she knows so many people who are not as clever like her. She collected all her friends and gave gold stars to Giraffe and Pig. But at the end of the day Teddy was sad. Otter had an emergency parent-teacher conference with Otter Keeper who explained that everyone was good at something. Before dinner they had just enough time for one more lesson. It turns out, Teddy was great at art and Otter turned out to be a good teacher.
I thought this was a good story because I want to be a teacher
I could use this to show students during roll playing times.
I thought this was a good story because I want to be a teacher
I could use this to show students during roll playing times.
July 9, 2016
Super cute story! Otter wants to start her own school because she knows so many people who are not as clever as they could be. She collected all her friends and gave gold stars to Giraffe and Pig. But at the end of the day Teddy was sad. Otter had an emergency parent-teacher conference with Otter Keeper who explained that everyone was good at something. Before dinner they had just enough time for one more lesson. It turns out, Teddy was great at art and Otter turned out to be a good teacher after all!
Read
November 12, 2016In Otter Goes to School, Otter starts her own school for Teddy, Giraffe, and the rest of her friends. They have a great teacher and do lots of fun things together . . . until Teddy says he doesn't like school anymore. Luckily, Otter Keeper comes to the rescue and teaches everyone the best lesson of all!
Subject: Schools -- Juvenile fiction.
Otters -- Juvenile fiction.
Teddy bears -- Juvenile fiction.
Animals -- Juvenile fiction.
Individuality -- Juvenile fiction.
Friendship -- Juvenile fiction.
Subject: Schools -- Juvenile fiction.
Otters -- Juvenile fiction.
Teddy bears -- Juvenile fiction.
Animals -- Juvenile fiction.
Individuality -- Juvenile fiction.
Friendship -- Juvenile fiction.
Read
May 15, 2019-PreK-K
-This book is about an otter who goes to school for the first time. He starts out nervous but as he explores he discovers what school is all about. Otter gets discouraged about school but his friends and amazing teacher help him realize that everyone is talented in different ways.
-This book will be great for preschoolers who are curious about kindergarten or children who are about to attend school for the first time.
-What are you good at? Everyone write on a sticky note and places it on the board. Are they all the same?
-This book is about an otter who goes to school for the first time. He starts out nervous but as he explores he discovers what school is all about. Otter gets discouraged about school but his friends and amazing teacher help him realize that everyone is talented in different ways.
-This book will be great for preschoolers who are curious about kindergarten or children who are about to attend school for the first time.
-What are you good at? Everyone write on a sticky note and places it on the board. Are they all the same?
February 14, 2017
There is not much to say about Otter other than she is absolutely brilliant! I love Otter, her personality, sense of style, choice of friends, and worldly insights. Otter is the best and I hope these picture books continue bringing us to her world for a long, long time. Illustrations are wonderful - colorful, fun, and detailed. Most highly recommended! Also, visit Otter's web page at www.iamotter.co.uk
December 19, 2016
A child-like otter decides he wants to be like his caretaker (an adult named "Otter Keeper), so he begins a school and leads his class (made up of a group of stuffed animals) as their teacher. However, X-eyed bear feels down because he isn't good at anything, until the class gets to the right lesson for bear to show off his skills (and make otter teacher feel better too). Strange, but cute, I appreciate this picture book.
September 24, 2018
This book is adorable. I had never met Otter before, but now my son and I are excited to find more Otter books. This book is perfect for the beginning, middle or end of the school year to reinforce the idea that we all have different talents and smarts, but no talent is more valuable than another. This book was so charming that I made my husband read it too and he agreed with me on how great it is!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews