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Otto: The Dog That Learns to Share
Otto loves bone-shaped treats, sniffing, chasing a ball and walks in the parks. But more than anything, Otto loves lazing in his comfy basket. But Otto’s private, comfy time is upset when his friend, Lupin, comes to stay and shares his basket . . . not so comfy now!
And before he can say ‘walkies’ his other friends all come and stay because Lupin has told them all how comfy Otto’s basket is. Soon they are all nestled in— with a beautiful Boxer dog taking center stage, of course. Even Bently, the Great Dane snuggles down! Otto is none too pleased and a tad grumpy at his lack of sleep. So, he devises a plan. The next day, Otto goes shopping and buys beds to suit all his friends. But when Otto settles back into his own bed, all by himself, he cannot sleep, neither can his friends. The solution is easy, all get back into one big comfy heap and doze! And Otto can sleep on TOP!
From award winning author/illustrator Catherine Rayner, Otto is a celebration of friendship, teaching children empathy and encouraging them to think of others.
And before he can say ‘walkies’ his other friends all come and stay because Lupin has told them all how comfy Otto’s basket is. Soon they are all nestled in— with a beautiful Boxer dog taking center stage, of course. Even Bently, the Great Dane snuggles down! Otto is none too pleased and a tad grumpy at his lack of sleep. So, he devises a plan. The next day, Otto goes shopping and buys beds to suit all his friends. But when Otto settles back into his own bed, all by himself, he cannot sleep, neither can his friends. The solution is easy, all get back into one big comfy heap and doze! And Otto can sleep on TOP!
From award winning author/illustrator Catherine Rayner, Otto is a celebration of friendship, teaching children empathy and encouraging them to think of others.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published April 22, 2025
5 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Rayner
54 books83 followersSee also Catherine Rayner for works on the Bronte sisters
Award winning author and illustrator Catherine Rayner studied Illustration at Edinburgh College of art. She fell in love with the city and still lives there with her husband, young son and a handful of creatures: Shannon the horse, Ena the grey cat and a goldfish called Richard.
She finds huge inspiration in her pets and often uses them as models, frequently asking Ena to pose so that she can study her posture and movement. Then she translates sketches of Ena into characters such as dragons and hares, not to mention moose and bears! But it was creatures of a wilder kind that inspired her first picture book, Augustus and His Smile - Catherine spent hours and hours watching and sketching tigers (in freezing temperatures) at Edinburgh Zoo.
Winner of the 2009 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for her second book Harris Finds His Feet, Catherine has now been shortlisted four times for the award. She was also awarded the Best New Illustrator Award at the Booktrust Early Years Awards in 2006 and was named one of Booktrust’s ten Best New Illustrators in 2008. In 2010, she was the inaugural illustrator in residence at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. In 2012 Catherine’s book Iris and Isaac won the UKLA Children’s Book Award and the Dutch edition of Solomon Crocodile has been selected as PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2014 in The Netherlands by the CPNB.
Award winning author and illustrator Catherine Rayner studied Illustration at Edinburgh College of art. She fell in love with the city and still lives there with her husband, young son and a handful of creatures: Shannon the horse, Ena the grey cat and a goldfish called Richard.
She finds huge inspiration in her pets and often uses them as models, frequently asking Ena to pose so that she can study her posture and movement. Then she translates sketches of Ena into characters such as dragons and hares, not to mention moose and bears! But it was creatures of a wilder kind that inspired her first picture book, Augustus and His Smile - Catherine spent hours and hours watching and sketching tigers (in freezing temperatures) at Edinburgh Zoo.
Winner of the 2009 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for her second book Harris Finds His Feet, Catherine has now been shortlisted four times for the award. She was also awarded the Best New Illustrator Award at the Booktrust Early Years Awards in 2006 and was named one of Booktrust’s ten Best New Illustrators in 2008. In 2010, she was the inaugural illustrator in residence at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. In 2012 Catherine’s book Iris and Isaac won the UKLA Children’s Book Award and the Dutch edition of Solomon Crocodile has been selected as PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2014 in The Netherlands by the CPNB.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 7, 2025
Oh this just brought me to tears mid-shift. What a sweetie pie. I actually can’t stand it.
November 4, 2025
This absolutely adorable Dachshund loves to play, chew, and sleep in his beloved basket at his house. At the dog park he meets friend after friend that does not have a basket or bed of their own. Being kind, he invites them over and soon feels like there is not enough room for him. His solution has a surprising twist and is perfect for this story. I love more than I can say the end pages of a variety of dog breeds some of which are in the story. Sharing is not always easy, but telling people what is not working may allow for solutions that suit all involved.
It is possible that this story was chosen due to the dapple Dachshund on the cover art. I had a male Dachshund for many years and this one looks a bit like him.
It is possible that this story was chosen due to the dapple Dachshund on the cover art. I had a male Dachshund for many years and this one looks a bit like him.
May 20, 2025
The illustrations are 4 or even 5 stars (SOOO adorable and lovely), but the story is about 3.5 to me. It skirts on the edge of talking about boundaries, but, well, I guess Otto doesn't have many and they figure it out in the end. It's a cute story, but I thought it started to be more than that, then just kind of stayed surface level. Regardless, it's a lovely book, and I think it could work well in a preschool or elementary school storytime.
March 16, 2025
This is an adorable book with beautiful illustrations. Otto has many friends and enjoys them all. He is a forward thinker, caring, and loyal. But what happens when he is sad and can't figure out a solution for himself? His friends find a solution and shows them the value of friendship.
May 23, 2025
Dogs. Too many dogs in a basket. Cannot possibly be a bad book.
June 6, 2025
How precious and sweet and beautiful and wholesome. Be still my heart. 🖤 🥹
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews