Otto and the Story Tree

Gr 2-6–“Otto was a cranky old bird.” Coupled with Mildenberger’s dreamy, pastel-smudged art, this perfect sentence sets the tone for a whimsical tale of changing one’s heart. It’s a bleak beginning for the story, which follows curmudgeonly Otto through his day. Otto’s cantankerous attitude keeps him from caring enough to clean the griminess around his home, his feathers, his windows. That all changes when a seed falls, and Otto can’t possibly be bothered to pick it up. Soon, a beam of light on the seed starts brightening the entire scene. Things start to get more crisp and colorful. Grumbling to the seed, Otto reminisces about past adventures that wordlessly fill awe-inspiring spreads. Are these visions mere dreams or amazing realities? Does it matter? Either way, they nourish the seed, setting the scene for a heartwarming parable about how sharing with others makes life a bit brighter. Through the seed and his stories, Otto builds a community. His personality doesn’t really change. He’s still a bit prickly. This story includes some higher concept ideas, but it’s a sweet tale with actively engrossing illustrations.