Pinkney, J. Brian. Hey Otter! Hey Beaver! J. Brian Pinkney, Illus. Greenwillow, 02/2023. [36]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-06-315982-2. GRADES Preschool – 2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
An otter and a beaver meet up at the river and approach it from different perspectives. Otter wants to play, and beaver wants to build, in a brief story filled with repetition. During storytime presentations, young children will join in on repeated phrases, and look for the duck and turtle in each spread. The energetic watercolor˗and˗acrylic illustrations focus on the two main characters with swirling pastel shades for the water, greenery, and sunshine, on white backgrounds, giving the suggestion that it takes place on a sunny day. A nice look at how friends can have different priorities but agree to work together.
Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool