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The Otter Who Wanted to Know
Pat is a little sea otter. She likes floating in the sea and asking lots and lots of questions. One day, Pat’s quiet life is turned upside down when she gets caught in a scary adventure. Suddenly, she doesn’t have time to ask questions. This time, Pat has to find out things for herself.
96 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 1991
11 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Jill Tomlinson
53 books31 followersJill Tomlinson never intended to be a writer. She trained as an opera singer, and then decided to have a family whilst her voice matured. But illness intervened, and she had to find another outlet for her energies. She started on a journalism course, and by the third lesson decided she wanted to write for children. So she did! Jill Tomlinson’s animal stories are much-loved and have been best-selling children’s books for nearly four decades.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 29, 2022
The Otter Who Wanted to Know is a book for children of about 7 and over which they can read to themselves, or perhaps as a bedtime story with one chapter a day. It is by the popular children’s author Jill Tomlinson, and has nine chapters, with just a few pencil drawings within the text. There are also smaller drawings at the head of each chapter.
The story is about a young sea otter called Pat, and her friend Bobby. In the first chapter called “Questions, questions, questions” we see Pat staying close to her mother and playing among the sea kelp. We learn details such as how Pat keeps a pebble under her armpit, and uses it to open shellfish. Pat is very inquisitive, and bombards Bobby, a boy otter who is a little older than her, with questions. Patiently he explains all about surviving in her home environment, feeding, storms, sharks and killer whales.
Still Pat asks more and more questions, so Bobby takes her to meet Gaffer, an old otter who tells her that there are all different sorts of otters, such as land otters. He also tells her about humans, and how men used to hunt otters. The story continues with a strong message about conservation. We see that as well as being a story of a little otter growing up, this is a worthy account of a species pushed to an endangered status, by the greed of humans. We see that just a few humans care enough to do something about it.
Although I approve of the message, I have to confess that I found this to be a rather dry read, packed with too many facts. Because I had hoped to give it to my little cousin, I also found another more colourful picture book about otters, which will hopefully stimulate her interest enough to want to read this one.
For those children who enjoy this read, here are the others in the series:
“The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark
The Cat Who Wanted to Go Home
The Gorilla Who Wanted to Grow Up
The Hen Who Wouldn’t Give Up
The Penguin Who Wanted to Find Out“
The story is about a young sea otter called Pat, and her friend Bobby. In the first chapter called “Questions, questions, questions” we see Pat staying close to her mother and playing among the sea kelp. We learn details such as how Pat keeps a pebble under her armpit, and uses it to open shellfish. Pat is very inquisitive, and bombards Bobby, a boy otter who is a little older than her, with questions. Patiently he explains all about surviving in her home environment, feeding, storms, sharks and killer whales.
Still Pat asks more and more questions, so Bobby takes her to meet Gaffer, an old otter who tells her that there are all different sorts of otters, such as land otters. He also tells her about humans, and how men used to hunt otters. The story continues with a strong message about conservation. We see that as well as being a story of a little otter growing up, this is a worthy account of a species pushed to an endangered status, by the greed of humans. We see that just a few humans care enough to do something about it.
Although I approve of the message, I have to confess that I found this to be a rather dry read, packed with too many facts. Because I had hoped to give it to my little cousin, I also found another more colourful picture book about otters, which will hopefully stimulate her interest enough to want to read this one.
For those children who enjoy this read, here are the others in the series:
“The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark
The Cat Who Wanted to Go Home
The Gorilla Who Wanted to Grow Up
The Hen Who Wouldn’t Give Up
The Penguin Who Wanted to Find Out“
February 26, 2025
My Year Two class enjoyed this story and we'll be reading the rest of the series throughout the year. A fun way for students to learn facts about a variety of animals.
July 13, 2023
Pat is a young sea otter who is just as curious as my 7 year old daughter, and this book was a good easy read for her with plenty of well drawn black and white illustrations. Playing among the sea kelp close to her mother Pat meets Bobby, a boy otter little older than her, who teaches her all about surviving in her home, about feeding, storms, sharks and killer whales. Still she wants to know more, so he takes her to meet Gaffer, an old otter who tells her about men and how they used to hunt otters. But then the food begins to run out and Bobby and Pat begin to lose weight and are found on the beach by a man who takes them to a strange house. Although a little didactic at times this is in the end a heartwarming story of a species pushed to endangered species status by the action of mankind, and the few members of that species who care enough to do something about it, and the story of a little otter growing up.
March 14, 2013
Cute story. Not my favorite, but still very fun.
August 16, 2018
Reasonable. A good way for children to learn about sea otters!
December 4, 2024
Extraordinar, câte asemănări între comportamentul vidrelor de mare din această carte și cel al unor tătici pe care îi cunosc personal (firește că nu voi divulga vreun nume de tătic, dar am exemple concrete și va trebui să mă credeți pe cuvânt).
În primul rând, felul în care servesc masa ambele categorii menționate. Vidrele de mare plutesc pe spate, țin mâncarea pe burtă (pește sau scoici) și o molfăie tacticos. Tăticii respectivi stau de asemenea pe spate și se uită la televizor, țin mâncarea tot pe burtă (un bol plin de pufuleți cu cașcaval, o farfurioară cu sticksuri, o pungă cu chipsuri etc) și o molfăie și ei fericiți.
Apoi faptul că, și unii și alții, au impresia că le știu pe toate. Pe toate adică pe toate câte sunt în lume, nu există întrebare la care să nu vină imediat cu un răspuns. În carte îl avem pe Moșu, cea mai în vârstă vidră din grup, nici nu apucă bine vreo vidră mai mititică să întrebe ceva că Moșu a și venit cu un răspuns, fie el practic sau teoretic. În lumea oamenilor îi avem pe acești tătici menționați anterior, care dacă nu e nimeni acasă și nu mai au cui să-i lumineze mintea în interiorul locuinței, se reped în cel mai apropiat parc unde se apucă să ofere lămuriri de mare interes pentru oricine trece pe acolo și crede că are vreo șansă să se plimbe fără a fi deranjat.
Din fericire, Jill Tomlinson a scris cartea “Vidra care voia să știe tot” pentru cei mici, pentru copii și pentru puii de vidră, iar nu pentru adulții molfăitori de pufuleți, așa că personajele cu adevărat importante sunt vidrele Patty și Bobby. Și bineînțeles cea mai mică vidră din lume, Molly.
Molly este deocamdată prea mică pentru a fi interesată de altceva în afară de mâncare, dar Patty este de o curiozitate nemaipomenită și nici măcar Moșu cel atotștiutor nu poate să o lămurească pe deplin atunci când Patty se apucă să întrebe despre lumea în care trăiește și mai ales despre ce se întâmplă dincolo de mare.
Firește că doar o călătorie o poate ajuta pe Patty să afle toate aceste taine, dar această călătorie va fi una… un pic diferită față de călătoriile și aventurile cu care copiii sunt obișnuiți din cărțile pe care le citesc. Vă asigur că veți avea parte de o mare surpriză!
Mă gândesc, chiar înainte ca voi să începeți să citiți “Vidra care voia să știe tot”, să vă rog să încercați să răspundeți la una dintre întrebările pe care Patty i le-a adresat Moșului la un moment dat.
“…de ce ni se spune vidre de mare? Noi nu le spunem oamenilor Oameni de Pământ...”
Ei? Ce ziceți dragi copii? Aveți oare un răspuns la această întrebare grozavă? Pentru că nici măcar Moșu, chiar atât de atotcunoscător pe cât crede el că este, nu a știut să răspundă, nici măcar parțial…
https://www.bucurestifm.ro/2024/12/04...
În primul rând, felul în care servesc masa ambele categorii menționate. Vidrele de mare plutesc pe spate, țin mâncarea pe burtă (pește sau scoici) și o molfăie tacticos. Tăticii respectivi stau de asemenea pe spate și se uită la televizor, țin mâncarea tot pe burtă (un bol plin de pufuleți cu cașcaval, o farfurioară cu sticksuri, o pungă cu chipsuri etc) și o molfăie și ei fericiți.
Apoi faptul că, și unii și alții, au impresia că le știu pe toate. Pe toate adică pe toate câte sunt în lume, nu există întrebare la care să nu vină imediat cu un răspuns. În carte îl avem pe Moșu, cea mai în vârstă vidră din grup, nici nu apucă bine vreo vidră mai mititică să întrebe ceva că Moșu a și venit cu un răspuns, fie el practic sau teoretic. În lumea oamenilor îi avem pe acești tătici menționați anterior, care dacă nu e nimeni acasă și nu mai au cui să-i lumineze mintea în interiorul locuinței, se reped în cel mai apropiat parc unde se apucă să ofere lămuriri de mare interes pentru oricine trece pe acolo și crede că are vreo șansă să se plimbe fără a fi deranjat.
Din fericire, Jill Tomlinson a scris cartea “Vidra care voia să știe tot” pentru cei mici, pentru copii și pentru puii de vidră, iar nu pentru adulții molfăitori de pufuleți, așa că personajele cu adevărat importante sunt vidrele Patty și Bobby. Și bineînțeles cea mai mică vidră din lume, Molly.
Molly este deocamdată prea mică pentru a fi interesată de altceva în afară de mâncare, dar Patty este de o curiozitate nemaipomenită și nici măcar Moșu cel atotștiutor nu poate să o lămurească pe deplin atunci când Patty se apucă să întrebe despre lumea în care trăiește și mai ales despre ce se întâmplă dincolo de mare.
Firește că doar o călătorie o poate ajuta pe Patty să afle toate aceste taine, dar această călătorie va fi una… un pic diferită față de călătoriile și aventurile cu care copiii sunt obișnuiți din cărțile pe care le citesc. Vă asigur că veți avea parte de o mare surpriză!
Mă gândesc, chiar înainte ca voi să începeți să citiți “Vidra care voia să știe tot”, să vă rog să încercați să răspundeți la una dintre întrebările pe care Patty i le-a adresat Moșului la un moment dat.
“…de ce ni se spune vidre de mare? Noi nu le spunem oamenilor Oameni de Pământ...”
Ei? Ce ziceți dragi copii? Aveți oare un răspuns la această întrebare grozavă? Pentru că nici măcar Moșu, chiar atât de atotcunoscător pe cât crede el că este, nu a știut să răspundă, nici măcar parțial…
https://www.bucurestifm.ro/2024/12/04...
October 29, 2025
A cute story, but not one I was always motivated to finish - mostly due to how it was written.
I enjoyed the relationship between Pat and Bobby, and sympathised with their curiosity about the world. I learned quite a few new facts about sea otters while reading this book - particularly about their special pebbles and food hunting strategies.
The ending felt quite rushed and cramped - but I'm glad that all of the familiar otters were ultimately reunited. Not entirely sure however that I understood what Fishface and Whitehair were meant to represent - some kind of wildlife welfare organisation I suppose?
Not a book I am likely to read again in future, as nice as it was - but would be perfect for any young fans of sea otters who find themselves with lots of burning questions.
I enjoyed the relationship between Pat and Bobby, and sympathised with their curiosity about the world. I learned quite a few new facts about sea otters while reading this book - particularly about their special pebbles and food hunting strategies.
The ending felt quite rushed and cramped - but I'm glad that all of the familiar otters were ultimately reunited. Not entirely sure however that I understood what Fishface and Whitehair were meant to represent - some kind of wildlife welfare organisation I suppose?
Not a book I am likely to read again in future, as nice as it was - but would be perfect for any young fans of sea otters who find themselves with lots of burning questions.
March 15, 2020
I read this to my daughter. She really enjoyed the book. I would recommend it to any young children who love animals. It is a good early reader book with chapters. It may not be marketed as this but the words are short and the writing is big to make it easier for a reader just starting out reading to themselves.
The book is about an Otter called Pat who is both very inquisitive and young. It follows her on the journey she make through the book and teaches the reader lots of facts about Sea Otters along the way.
The book is about an Otter called Pat who is both very inquisitive and young. It follows her on the journey she make through the book and teaches the reader lots of facts about Sea Otters along the way.
March 13, 2021
"Pat is a little sea otter
as curious as can be.
She loves turning up her toes
and floating in the sea!"
Pat *never* stops asking questions! Her infectious curiosity and wonder at the world around her makes this a delightful read, and the gorgeous illustrations by Paul Howard really bring the characters to life. A must-read for otter-lovers young and old.
as curious as can be.
She loves turning up her toes
and floating in the sea!"
Pat *never* stops asking questions! Her infectious curiosity and wonder at the world around her makes this a delightful read, and the gorgeous illustrations by Paul Howard really bring the characters to life. A must-read for otter-lovers young and old.
October 12, 2023
It's heartwarming to hear you've delved into "The Otter Who Wanted to Know" by Jill Tomlinson & Paul Howard. This charming story reinforces the value of curiosity and the journey of seeking answers.
It's okay to have questions, and the pursuit of knowledge is a rewarding adventure in itself.
Keep reading, and never stop being curious about the world around you!
Love,
Father & Mother
It's okay to have questions, and the pursuit of knowledge is a rewarding adventure in itself.
Keep reading, and never stop being curious about the world around you!
Love,
Father & Mother
May 20, 2024
I wanted to love this book as I fell in love with sea otters when I visited Canada, unfortunately something didn’t quite work for me.
That said if you have an animal mad child then this story filled with little titbits of facts about sea otters is a good read. It gives facts wrapped up in a story and hopefully the story will be something you can enjoy more than I did.
That said if you have an animal mad child then this story filled with little titbits of facts about sea otters is a good read. It gives facts wrapped up in a story and hopefully the story will be something you can enjoy more than I did.
September 26, 2019
It’s very approachable and a perfect example of how to encourage children into longer texts. It is fun and playful, has a lovely moral regarding learning but what can happen if we push to hard and don’t take our time.
September 7, 2021
Just OK.
Teaches you a little bit about Otters but I didn't find the story particularly interesting and neither did my 6 year old. He did however want to hear all the story so there were parts to it he liked.
Teaches you a little bit about Otters but I didn't find the story particularly interesting and neither did my 6 year old. He did however want to hear all the story so there were parts to it he liked.
March 3, 2021
This book is a very happy and charming book for younger readers.
March 3, 2021
Super cute story! My girl and boy really enjoyed it!
January 21, 2022
So cute
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2023
O carte pentru copiii bună. Și nu doar pentru copiii o lectură relaxantă când trebuie să iei o pauză
November 20, 2023
A lovely sweet book, I imagine it would be a lovely read to youngsters as they drift off to sleep.
January 31, 2024
Such a cute story. I hope there are stil humans like Fishface out there. Great book to read to children.
March 2, 2024
Didn't get this at all, no story to it! Shame as I was going to use it on World Book Day!
February 1, 2025
I enjoyed this book and my favourite part was the ending. - Logan, aged 7
June 17, 2025
Gah. Adorable.
December 3, 2023
Dar voi știți cine este Patty?
Faceți cunoștință: ea e vidra care mereu pune tot felul de întrebări, se joacă, își face prieteni noi și are parte de multe aventuri în drumul ei spre cunoaștere.
O cărticică drăguță, dar care pe mine nu m-a convins că Patty CHIAR își dorea să afle multe. Mai curând că voia să mănânce și să doarmă.
Faceți cunoștință: ea e vidra care mereu pune tot felul de întrebări, se joacă, își face prieteni noi și are parte de multe aventuri în drumul ei spre cunoaștere.
O cărticică drăguță, dar care pe mine nu m-a convins că Patty CHIAR își dorea să afle multe. Mai curând că voia să mănânce și să doarmă.
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August 26, 2025Audiobook
1h 6m
1h 6m
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