Otter play gets its visual due in this adorable tale of one little otter’s determination to prove “he’s a big otter now.” At the beginning of a bright new day Little Otter is intent on having as much fun as possible. He cracks clams—“Clickety, clunkety, crunch!”—floats with fish and avoids a panoply of dangers. A run-in with a voracious cougar ends happily but reminds Little Otter that no matter how big he grows, he still needs his family from time to time. Hoyt has a good feel for what makes these freshwater scamps so endearing; his Little Otter is a joyful, gleeful, mischievous critter full of pep and vinegar. And the image of the nasty cougar filling Little Otter’s eyes as she pounces makes for a mighty impressive two-page spread. Casanova’s onomatopoeic rhymes may take some practice before they fall trippingly from the tongue, but once mastered they complement the art to a tee. (Picture book. 4-8)
