Review of Ophelia The Californian Sea Otter

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Ivana Tomaš
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Review of Ophelia The Californian Sea Otter

Post by Ivana Tomaš »

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Ophelia The Californian Sea Otter" by Tori Busto.]
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3 out of 5 stars
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Today there are a lot of children's books on the market, and sometimes it is challenging to find one that is unique and slightly different from the others. However, I think that for the youngest, it is important that the book is joyous, with an optimistic theme and gripping characters. Ophelia the Californian Sea Otter by Tori Busto is a children's book that follows one unforgettable, exciting day of three otters.

Ophelia, Violet, and Ester are otters and have been best friends since kindergarten. Today is a very special day for them because, in the evening, they will enjoy the ballet that will take place in Stern Grove Park in San Francisco. Before the evening, they will spend the whole day enjoying themselves. They will go on a picnic, hang out with other animals and enjoy nature and its beauty. The reader further learns how the best friends spent the whole day and how they liked the ballet they attended.

First of all, I liked the concept and the very atmosphere of this book. The story exudes good vibes and true friendship. Likewise, the choice of main characters is intriguing. I enjoy it when animals are personified in children's books because it gives a certain amount of magic and wonders to the plot. Furthermore, readers can draw a clear lesson about the importance of friendship from the story, and I believe that essential life lessons are always well-received in children's literature. I particularly liked the part where Ophelia, Ester, and Violet enjoyed a picnic surrounded by eucalyptus and redwood trees, relishing nature and its smells and sounds. Also, I must emphasize that the entire book is beautifully illustrated with vibrant, joyful, and pastel colors. Likewise, some pages contain solely illustrations that are, of course, associated with the story and look as if they were drawn by youngsters, which is a big plus.

On the other hand, unfortunately, the book has some negative aspects. First of all, I encountered a lot of grammatical and typographical errors. The book needs detailed and thorough editing. I was disappointed about this because a lot of those errors could have been easily avoided. Also, the story lacked some kind of plot or intrigue in the plot. I would have liked the story to have been a bit more complex instead of just following one day of the three best friends.

All in all, I decided to give the book 3 out of 5 stars for the reasons already mentioned. The rating would be higher if the book contained fewer unnecessary errors. I would recommend the book primarily to all children who like colorful picture books and books with engaging animal characters. I believe it would also be a very comforting bedtime story.

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Ophelia The Californian Sea Otter
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Nicholas Bush
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Post by Nicholas Bush »

I love your review for this book and i must admit that it is captivating to read. Would be nice to read this book someday. adding it to my bookshelf ASAP. Nice review, keep it up.
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