Otis

August 17, 2009
Readers of classic children's books will find traces of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
, Little Toot
and The Story of Ferdinand
in this story of “a friendly little tractor.” Otis the tractor loves to work as much as he loves to play. When he snores in the barn, his “soft putt puff puttedy chuff
” consoles a motherless calf. Otis and the calf become pals, and Long (who reillustrated The Little Engine That Could
) pictures them sitting under a tree in Ferdinand the bull's iconic pose. Yet this idyll cannot last. Otis's owner (no loyal Mike Mulligan) purchases a huge “brand-new yellow tractor” and puts Otis out to pasture, where “the weeds began to cover his tires.” Only when the calf gets stuck in a muddy pond does Otis rev to the rescue. Long fashions Otis's headlamps as eyes and accents the charcoal gray and fawn brown gouache with apple red, buttery yellow and denim blue. Resurrecting stories of sweet machines aiding helpless animals is not easy in an era concerned with fossil fuels and feedlots, but Long's story should inspire readers to revisit old favorites. Ages 3–5.

Starred review from September 1, 2009
PreS-Gr 2-Otis is a fun-loving tractor who roams the fields after a hard day's work and plays in the haystacks. In the barn one night, his engine provides a gentle purr that helps a frightened young calf fall into a peaceful sleep. The two become inseparable. That is, until the farmer decides to upgrade and brings home a brand-new, shiny yellow tractor and relegates Otis to the weeds behind the building. Having outlived his usefulness, Otis just sits there, impervious to the calf's call to play. But when his friend gets stuck in Mud Pond and no onenot even the fire departmentcan pull her out, the feisty tractor revs his engine ("putt puff puttedy chuff") and saves the day. His heroism and concern for a friend are themes that will appeal to young readers. Long's gouache and pencil artwork is stunning with a red and cream main character against a sepia-toned monochromatic background. The overall effect is nostalgic and comforting as readers bond with the determined little tractor. In the end, Otis finds a place on the farm where his engine's soft purr can be put to good use. This satisfying conclusion that speaks of a place for everyone is sure to ring true to children."Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2009
Preschool-K Long has illustrated many childrens books but now offers just his second picture book as both author and artist. Otis, a cuddly little tractor, likes to work hard on the farm all day, boisterously blow off steam among the haystacks, and then fall asleep with a putt puff puttedy chuff in the old barn. A baby calf comes to the barn, and the two become fast friends, frolicking in the fields together. When a bigger, better tractor arrives, Otis gets stuck out in the weeds, but he proves his mettle when he rescues the calf from a mud hole. Theres a definite whiff of The Little Engine That Could (which Long has also illustrated) in this tale of a plucky anthropomorphic tractor, but the value of friendship is the real lesson. Longs terrific fluid artwork, done in gouache and pencil, will entertain kids with the humor-laced depictions of the feisty work machines romps, and tug at little heartstrings as he mopes about unwanted. Perhaps even more, the tales smoothly rounded nostalgic flare will charm adults tasked with reading the tale aloud.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2010
After being replaced by a newer model, tractor Otis is forlorn--until his baby-calf friend gets stuck in the mud, and only Otis can save her. This tender, old-fashioned tale recalling Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and The Story of Ferdinand has a timeless message and a surefire hook: a cute animal. The largely industrial-toned art manages, impressively, to exude warmth.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)