Odder

Grades 3 and up; 272 Pages

Readers will delight in the story of Odder based on the true story of an orphaned otter found in Monterey Bay on the California coast. This touching story is told in free verse through the eyes of an adorable otter who was rescued and now resides at Monterey Bay Aquarium. The aquarium sponsors a program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers. This humorous and touching tale is one to be loved by readers of all ages.  Animal lovers will revel in this story. It is a great choice for reluctant readers who will appreciate the free verse structure of the book.  

Introduce your readers to the sea otter live cam at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for real time views of otter life. The link includes all live cams available at the aquarium.   https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams 

About the Author:  

Katherine Applegate is author of numerous award-winning books for children.  Her love of animals and nature is evident in her writing. She started writing in 4th grade and has been writing ever since. If you love Odder, check out her other popular books The One and Only Ivan about a gorilla and a baby elephant.  Other popular titles include The One and Only Ruby and The One and Only Bob and many others. If you would like a deeper dive with the author, you can find her interview on the Growing Readers Podcast. https://www.charlessantoso.com/

 Illustrator:

Charles Santoso created the colorful, detailed cover art and the black and white drawings throughout the book.  His images look soft to the touch and will delight readers. He has illustrated multiple books for several authors.   

Pathways connections: Living Things and The Environment

 Reviewed by Cheryl The, PhD

Professor of Education

Southwestern Adventist University

‍