Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4-This title introduces both river and sea otters, providing basic information on a variety of topics, including their habitat, lifestyle, and diet. Fact boxes in the upper-right corner of most pages present additional tidbits. The full- and double-page watercolor illustrations are quite striking, and along with maps, close-ups, and cutouts, enhance the text. For example, a picture of a sea otter also includes a magnified view of the animal's ear and fur as well as a cutaway section showing its spine. The text continually shifts back and forth between the sea otter and river otter, and while the text is clear about which animal is being discussed, this arrangement makes the book difficult to use for reports. Young researchers might prefer Diane Swanson's Otters (Gareth Stevens, 1998) and Doe Boyle's Otter on His Own (Soundprints, 1995), which are more in-depth treatments.-Cathie Bashaw Morton, Somers Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Comparative facts about two kinds of North American otters (river and sea) are presented in rather pedestrian text with color art illustrating their bodies and activities. A boxed Otter Fact is printed on some pages, and a few Words to Know are appended, but the otter's natural playfulness and curiosity aren't well conveyed. Ind. From HORN BOOK Fall 2003, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A pleasant introduction to North American river otters and their larger cousins, the sea otters, with colored drawings on every page and an easy-to-read text. Part of the Kids Can Press Wildlife Series that includes Eagles (2000) and Beavers (1998), by Deborah Hodge, this title follows the same format with information on anatomy, range, food, homes, raising young, how otters protect themselves, otters around the world, watching for otters, a glossary and index. Some factual information is vague, for example: "A river otter has a long body and a long tail. Its head is quite flat and pointed." For sea otters, the text reads, "Sea otters are much larger than river otters." How long is long? How large is large? To be fair, the author states elsewhere in Watching for Otters, "If the otter looks as big as a German shepherd dog, it is probably a sea otter. Sea otters are very large--about two or three times bigger than river otters." Since otters of either variety are seldom found in most neighborhoods, precision in identification may be less than critical and appealing illustrations will attract beginning readers. (Nonfiction. 7-10) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
