Otto Grows Down, a review

Otto Grows Down by Michael Sussman, illustrated by Scott Magoon

New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2009, 30 p.

Suggested Interest Level: Ages 4-8

Otto gets a new sister, and she’s just in time to ruin Otto’s sixth birthday. Otto is not happy about the new addition, which is made abundantly clear when he uses his one birthday wish to, “wish that Anna was never born!”

True to the secret power of birthday wishes made under the correct conditions, Otto gets his heart's desire. Unfortunately, when Otto rewraps and returns all of his presents, he starts to get an idea that something may have gone horribly wrong. From leaving the barber with longer hair than he started out with, to getting out of the bathtub dirty instead of clean, Otto's un-growth is producing more than a few undesirable consequences.

As Otto arrives at his fifth birthday he attempts to fix his fateful wish. No luck. Fourth birthday? No. Third? No. Otto is stuck and the situation isn't looking good as Otto’s second birthday also comes and goes.

Now, its Otto’s last chance; his first birthday, but what can he do, he can’t even talk anymore!

Find out more by checking out this delightful, sometimes disgusting book on being careful of what you wish for and learning that maybe that new baby isn’t so bad after all.

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My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved the first half of the book and, if you love reading as much as I do, you won't skip anything... but, for all my more 'straight-laced friends' you might want to skip to the middle and read from there. Incredible book for any want-to-be writer, no matter the genre, to have in their 'bag'.


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