Otter Everywhere: Brand New Readers by Christine Webster, illustrated by Tim Nihoff Ages 4-8 48 pages Candlewick March 2007 Paperback     Otter Everywhere is a collection of four short new reader stories. Otter is a lovable purple otter who finds herself in all sorts of crazy adventures. Using short sentences and informative illustrations, the collection guides the new reader toward increased confidence in building their new reading skills. Otter Makes Bubbles finds Otter in a bathtime adventure. She pours soap in the bath and it makes bubbles; she pours more soap in the bath and it makes more bubbles. Before we know it, we cannot find Otter hidden in the bubbles - until she sneezes. Suddenly the bubbles clear, and we can see Otter again. In Otter Goes Swimming, Otter is preparing to take a swim in her tiny inflatable pool. She puts on her swimsuit, puts on her swim cap, puts on her lifesaver, puts on her goggles, puts on her flippers, and jumps in the pool. The pool deflates, the water runs out, and there is no room for Otter! Otter is sitting by a tree when an apple falls in Otter’s Apples. Otter picks up the apple, and another apple falls. She picks it up, and then Otter falls, making all the apples fall. Otter picks up all the apples and makes apple pies. Otter is headed out for a picnic in Otter’s Picnic. She has a banana, she has an apple, and she has cheese. The ants take the banana, the ants take the apple, the ants take the cheese, and the ants take Otter! Together Otter and the ants have a picnic. With simple and repetitive sentence structures, illustrations that guide the new reader, and engaging and funny storylines, Otter Everywhere will encourage and delight new readers and their captive audience. This collection is also great to read to small listeners who will very soon grow up to read the stories on their own. They are the perfect size for small hands and contain bright, simple illustrations that tell the complete story, even without the words. Each book also contains a guide for coaching the new reader through their reading journey, building confidence and creating fun.     web reviews   Regan Windsor/2007 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)