The sinking of Captain Otter

Troy Wilson, 1970-

Book - 2018

"Kelpy the otter builds himself a boat. A boat that he loves, even though it is most definitely a homemade boat. Despite ridicule by other otters, pirates and sharks, Kelpy sails on. Then he comes across Blistering Blustering Butterbeard: a butterfly pirate in his own tiny boat. At first Kelpy is incredulous - he laughs. But Butterbeard's hurt feelings and tears turn Kelpy's distain to empathy. In a surprising turn, Kelpy scuttles his beloved boat for the butterfly's benefit, indulging Butterbeard and starting an uproarious game that they play again and again and again. Story of an unlikely friendship between an underdog and someone even smaller and more vulnerable than him. Underlying message about following your dream ...and not letting ridicule, nay-saying or bullying discourage you or stand in the way of pursuing your passions and enjoying life Text is great to read aloud, featuring pleasing repetition, lots of humour, and some fun nautical and pirate terms"--Provided by publisher.

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Location Call Number   Status
Children's Room jE/Wilson Checked In
Subjects
Genres
Picture books
Published
Toronto, ON : Berkeley, CA : Owlkids Books Inc [2018]
Language
English
Main Author
Troy Wilson, 1970- (author)
Other Authors
Maira Chiodi (illustrator)
Physical Description
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 20 x 27 cm
ISBN
9781771473118
Contents unavailable.
Review by Horn Book Review

Kelpy the otter builds a ship and sets sail, only to be laughed at by other otters, sharks, pirates, and even waves. When he stumbles upon an even tinier seafaring creature, Kelpy is the one laughing...until he realizes that sea life is more fun with a friend. The text's repetitive refrains are fit for a sea chantey; naive cut-paper illustrations complement the childlike storytelling. (c) Copyright 2019. 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

An otter and a butterflyboth passionate sea captainsbecome fast friends as they battle it out on the high seas.Kelpy, an otter in the flesh but a sea captain in his heart, builds himself a boat and sets sail despite the pervasive mockery. Other otters laugh, human pirates laugh, sharks laugh, and even the waves laugh, but Kelpy sails onward, pursuing his dream (though shedding a few tears). Then, on the horizon he spies another pirate. But this time it is a diminutive butterfly (with a hilarious loop-over-the-nonexistent-ears beard) in a tiny boat who exclaims: "I be Blistering Blastering Butterbeard. Prepare to be sunk!" Kelpy laughs at the butterfly's ineffectual barrage, and Butterbeard begins to cry. Contrite and recognizing that Butterbeard is a kindred spirit following his own dream, Kelpy realizes the only thing to be done is to destroy his own boat to make it look as though Butterbeard sank him. Butterbeard exults, Kelpy rebuilds. The two fierce denizens of the high seas commence to battle each other over and over, having a grand time and becoming fast friends in the process. Author Wilson's tightly constructed narrative has a strong repetition-of-three base that supplies both a solid foundation and humor, and it plays well against illustrator Chiodi's exuberant and colorful mixed-media illustrations with their loose, plenty-of-space feel.Funand with a supportive message for readers who march to different drums. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.