Post by richardvasseur on Apr 7, 2019 19:38:36 GMT
Title name: Otis and the Tornado
Author and artist: Loren Long
Publisher: Philomel Books. An imprint of Penguin Young Readers
Publication date: 2011
Page count: 34 pages
Illustrated fiction for young adults
Cost: $ 17.99 USA/ 21.00 Canada
ISBN: 978-0-399-25477-2
Review by: Allen Klingelhoets
Otis and the farm animals are again main characters in 2011 book. Time is summer day. The calf from first Otis book is even in “Otis and the Tornado” book. Otis and his farm friends are playing a game, follow-the-leader. A new farm animal is introduced in this story. He is an unfriendly full grown bull. He does not want to make friends with Otis or the other farm animals. Otis even tries to give the bull an apple which he brought all the way from tree on hill overlooking farm. The bull does not take apple with appreciation towards Otis. The bull instead tries to break down wooden fence and attack tractor named Otis. The fence is strong and does not break. A little later in day the sky turns frightening with dark and stormy atmosphere. The farmer and his family seek safety in tornado shelter near house.
The animals follow the tractor Otis in follow-the-leader game to safe area near Mud Creek. There is an animal though which Otis hears in distance in distress. The bull is calling for help. The storm has makings of tornado. A funnel forms and is moving towards farm. The bull is fenced in near barn. Otis makes a decision to go back to farm. He decides to save bull. Otis may not be a superhero like Thor or Superman. He is an old tractor with rubber tires. He knows courage. I have seen this with “Otis and the Kittens” book. Now I saw it again with saving bull. Otis goes back to farm from safe area of “Mud Creek”. He goes putt puff putted chuff and rescues bull. The bull loses meanness and befriends Otis and other farm animals. I noticed the calf from first Otis book was also drawn by Loren Long into “Otis and the Tornado”.
The book back inner cover gives some more details of Otis the tractors origins. Loren Long has a history with tractors, having driven his first one while working on a Kentucky horse farm in college. Despite never being allowed to ride the horses, he loved riding the same rickety tractor every day that summer. Otis and the Tractor is another ode to the days on the farm.
Allen Klingelhoets