Otto lives in a book and is happiest when his story is being read. Otto is no ordinary storybook character: when no one is looking, he comes to life! Otto loves to walk off of his book's pages, but when his book is taken away while Otto is off exploring, the book bear sets off on a grand adventure to find a new home.
Except...it's an awfully big world for such a small bear and Otto misses his warm book. Will Otto ever find the perfect home?
With sweet, timeless illustrations and a story that will have young readers watching their bookshelves in hopes of spotting wandering book creatures, this charming story is sure to delight book lovers everywhere.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful.
What if??
By J.Prather
I have been a fan of this author/illustrator for quite some time. Her book The Magic Box has been a story time staple for me since its release. My expectations for Otto The Book Bear were sky high, and luckily, this charming book did not disappoint. It tells the story of Otto, a bear who lives in a book "on a shelf in a house..." who has a very unique talent. Otto likes to step out of his book and explore! All is well and good until one day Otto is left behind. He doesn't like being alone, so he sets off on an adventure that eventually leads him to a new home where he finds some rather unexpected friends.I've seen plenty of picture books which detail what happens when book characters come to life, teddy bears become animated, or a child's doodles jump off the page ready to play. The characteristic most of these books share is that when the characters hop out of a child's imagination, they are larger than life. A beloved character becomes a giant playmate, ready to protect or entertain. In this case, Otto steps off the page on his own, tiny in a world of giants. Children don't really play a role in this story, other than at the beginning and end when they are seen enjoying Otto's storybook. The reader truly feels that they are witnessing something special that no one else can see. This perspective leads to some great storytelling as we follow tiny Otto to his ultimate destination - the library!The perfect length for preschool story time, kids will also delight in the charming illustrations that depict Otto doing things like practicing his writing on a giant typewriter, reading his favorite stories, and trying out the librarian's date due stamps! They will smile as they see Otto peering up at what seems like a gigantic shelf of books, wonder at his bravery as he travels along rooftops and roadways, and grin along with him as he discovers new friends. Cleminson's thick lined, simple depictions of Otto in no way diminish his expressiveness, and only add to his charm.This is a wonderful choice for any young child's personal collection, and is simply a must have for any story time leader or preschool classroom. I will admit that the little kid in me gasped just slightly when I first saw Otto step out of his book. Point to any kid who enjoys a good story, and I guarantee that at some point that kid has wondered "what if book characters could really come out of the book?" Cleminson does a wonderful job of answering that question for the preschool crowd.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful.a must for library collections
By C. Johnson
This book is charming - perfect for a read aloud story time. The illustrations are whimsical and the bear's adventures provide just enough interest before the happy ever after ending (which will warm any librarian's heart!). Children will warm to the bear's efforts to find a welcoming home.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful.Beautiful Read!
By Beverly L. Archer
What I liked about this book: I LOVE this book. In fact, this might be my new favorite picture book. It's about a bear and a book - two of my favorite things. The illustrations are brilliant. They look like a combination of either pen and ink or water color. I wouldn't mind having them framed for my library walls. Young children will love the idea of a book character coming to life at night. The happy ending makes it an all around good read. This is an excellent read aloud. I will be ordering this for my school's library.What I didn't like about the book: I absolutely LOVED it all.Recommended for pre-school and older.AR Book Level: 2.6
