“…and play was her purpose.”
Odder, of course, is an otter. An otter on an odyssey.
We meet her as a young pup, learning about the kelp and the sea. However, like Bambi and Babar before her, she is torn from her mother in a great storm and winds up alone in Monterey Bay. As it turns out, this is a great place to be lost thanks to the scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium who discover Odder, care for her, and nurse her back to health.
Otter pup rehabilitation is a tricky business. The well-meaning aquarists know that if young otters spend too much time with humans, they won’t be able to reacclimate to the sea independently. So they wear Darth Vader-ish headgear to hide their identities and make sure Odder spends time with older rescued otters who live at the Aquarium full-time. Their goal? Try to teach Odder to be an otter so she can return to the ocean where she belongs.
“Nobody plays like Odder plays. Nobody has her moves.”
Even though the aquarists know they are poor substitutes for otter mothers, they’re able to return Odder to the water where she revels in the sea for several years. She makes a friend, another sea otter she calls Khairi, and retains her heedless curiosity. But when an accidental encounter with a shark sends Odder back to the Aquarium, her future becomes uncertain. Her injuries are significant. And the aquarists have grown increasingly concerned over her lack of fear for things that could harm her further.
The longer she’s back at the Aquarium, the more sad and wistful Odder becomes. She’s thankful to her caregivers, but she misses the ocean, the real sea kelp, the other otters, and the dive-bombing, doughnut-making tricks she’s known for. Is there a way that Odder’s insatiable curiosity and love for play can serve another purpose?
Inspired by true events that took place at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Odder is an epic adventure and a love story of sorts – combining fun, bravery, loyalty, and loss. Written entirely in verse, Applegate’s sleek narrative is the perfect way for readers to learn more about the marvels of sea otters and the wonders of the ocean through Odder’s unforgettable odyssey.
And what happens to Odder, you ask?
“Most of all,
says Odder,
I am going to teach you
how to play…”
—
Odder: An Otter’s Story by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Charles Santoso.
Adapted from the novel of the same name, this stunning, illustrated version of Odder is the perfect companion to share with your school’s youngest readers to keep everyone on the same page.
A Picture Book Companion is an add-on that can expand the reach of your school-wide reading program when the chapter book might contain themes that are too complex for younger readers, especially your preschoolers. Now everyone can be included! This book even comes with its own set of resources similar to those for the chapter book. You can request to include the Picture Book Companion on the Request A Quote page when requesting a quote on the chapter book above. Picture Book Companions often have an up-charge that will be communicated to you on your quote.
