In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

Reviewed by:
  • Otis and the Tornado
  • Hope Morrison
Long, Loren . Otis and the Tornado; written and illus. by Loren Long. Philomel, 2011. 40p. ISBN 978-0-399-25477-2 $17.99 R 4-7 yrs.

Following his triumph in rescuing a little calf in Otis (BCCB 12/09), Otis the tractor and his pals around the farm have settled into a happy life of backyard games and frivolity. When they play follow-the-leader, everyone joins in; everyone, that is, except for the bull, who would "snort and snarl and huff hot air" if any of the animals got too close to his private enclosure. When a tornado is spotted in the near distance, the farmer and farmhands run for cover without even checking on the animals. Instead, it is Otis who heads for the barn and unlatches the stalls so that the animals can dash to lower ground. Just then, Otis hears the mournful bellowing of the bull, whose pen is directly in the path of the tornado, and he runs to release the massive creature, who then joins the other animals and, in the aftermath of the storm, becomes a new playmate. The storytelling is particularly effective in this tribute to friendship and compassion; Long builds the plot up to a riveting crescendo, then gently brings it back to a happy and familiar place. The anthropomorphized tractor is an absurd and delightful companion for the farmyard animals, their relationship coming across as perfectly normal under Long's deft hand. Aside from being a solid friendship tale, this is also a remarkably useful weather story that would fit snugly into early science curriculums. The vivid description of [End Page 155] the tornado is well matched in the art, which offers large-scale gouache and pencil interpretations of the changing light and impending danger of the storm, while Otis' shiny metallic exterior juxtaposes nicely with the threatening backdrops. Listeners are certain to cheer Otis on in this gentle and nostalgic tale of doing what is right, despite the dangers.

...

pdf

Share