Otter's New Neighbors

by Li Xingming

When Otter moves in, neighbors come with gifts. A surprise guest teaches them all about inclusion, teamwork, and making room for everyone.

A funny, tender story about new beginnings, kind neighbors, and how a little surprise can bring a whole community closer together.

Otter’s new neighbors near the lake turns up, each bringing a thoughtful gift to welcome him. Just as Otter begins to feel at home, a loud knock at the door startles everyone. Could this last neighbor ruin everything? Or will they be the key to bringing everyone even closer together?

A charming picture book celebrating community, kindness, and the joy of making new friends.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 26, 2026

Reviews

[Reading Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A children's book about an otter that moves into his own home. All of the otters neighbors come to bring him welcoming gifts. One of his neighbors is a bear and he struggles to get through the door and ends up ruining all the gifts. A good book for a small child maybe 3 to 4 years of age.

[Bibliothecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Charlesbridge for providing me with the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book has the sweetest illustrations. Li Xingming is definitely a talented artist and I especially loved how she added light to her works. The story was sweet, it felt a little reminiscent of Beatrix Potter's world with animals in their little outfits and homely tales. Sadly, I suspect some things were lost in translation. Either that or it was a little too simple. The story is sweet but little more - I feel like it might have had a different ring to it in its original which I am assuming is in mandarin. It is still a nice book but I'd argue its biggest selling point is the art.

[Patricia N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otter's New Neighbors
by Li Xingming

Rating: 5 star rating

If you’re looking for a truly heartwarming children's book that feels like a warm hug, you have to check out "Otter’s New Neighbors" by Li Xingming. It is honestly one of the sweetest stories about the community I’ve come across.

Otter moves into a quiet new house on a lakeside island, ready for some peace and quiet. But right away, his new neighbors start knocking on the door to welcome him. One by one, they bring over gifts: a handmade bed, a table, and cozy cushions, and they were literally helping him build a home from scratch. Just when things are getting warm and cozy, a massive Bear shows up. He means well, but he’s large, and his arrival turns the peaceful gathering into a chaotic mess.

Otter is just the sweetest, most welcoming neighbor, and his neighbors (a mix of beavers, antelopes, sheep, and geese) are pure kindness. But Bear is the real catalyst here. He represents that moment in life when things get messy or uncomfortable, and he forces everyone to decide how welcoming they truly want to be.

The illustrations are beautiful, soft watercolors. I love how the book starts out very white and empty to show Otter’s loneliness, but as more neighbors arrive, the pages burst with color, warmth, and life.

Without spoiling how they clean up Bear's mess, the ending is just beautiful. It’s a great lesson for kids and adults alike. Building a true community means being flexible, pitching in when things go wrong, and making room for everyone, even for the people who don't always quite fit in.

Definitely add this one to your children's list of books. If you love beautifully illustrated books with a ton of heart, choose this one. It's such a cute book!

Thank you, NetGalley, Charlesbridge, and Li Xingming for the eARC book review consideration. All opinions are my own.

#NetGalley
#OttersNewNeighbors
#LiXingming
#Charlesbridge

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[Joey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Charlesbridge and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Otter has moved to the lake, his house is empty, then his neighbours all start coming one by one each with a gift. But when bear comes he’s much too big for the house and soon disaster strikes. But with teamwork and friendship things come together.

This was adorable what a beautiful tale of friendship, kindness and teamwork. Each animal character comes to help settle in their new lonely neighbour with a gift and a helping hand. I loved how accepting they each were of each other and even though hesitant of bear they let him join in.

The illustrations were absolutely perfect for this story they captured the cuteness of each animal and I loved seeing how each one was different, how each one helped and watching his house coming together with help from each one of them. A very beautiful story to read and to look at.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

With otters being one of children’s favorite animals, this picture book will certainly be pulled from the shelf in eager anticipation and a quick thumbing through the pages with plenty of wildlife in the illustrations will reinforce interest among preschool children. However, the story is straight forward, focusing on neighbors reaching out to Otter with practical housewarming gifts as he settles into his new home and there are no real surprises. A brief mishap with Bear due to his size provides some humor but the story is very predictable and the text is nothing more than almost dull descriptions of what is happening in the illustrations, in some cases, the text is a bit stilted, likely due to the translation from Chinese to English. Three stars granted because littles do love animal stories.

Thanks for the early look, Edelweiss.

[Jadyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book in translation is very sweet and peaceful with the lakeside environment. Otter moves into a new home, and is visited with gifts from each of his neighbors. But when a neighbor who doesn't quite fit (figuratively or literally) show up, the community and Otter's housewarming manners are tested. While according to the author's note, Bear is supposed to represent the unexpected misfortune that can sometimes come with change, I wondered that consideration/an attempt at prevention didn't occur on the page, with only the vague "It's him!" serving as a warning from the other animals. However, the overall themes are inclusive, and seeing the animals make the most of the situation was heartwarming. I was surprised that the compass in the end paper map is reversed, and not as a function of a flipped image, as the letters are still oriented correctly.

[sofereadstoomuch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ļoti mīlīgi ilustrēta bilžu grāmata par ūdru, kuram ir brīnišķīgi kaimiņi. Ievākšanās brīdī viņi nāk ciemos un ir gatavi palīdzēt, kā vien spēj.
Grāmatiņā tiek apspēlēta arī citādākā pieņemšana, tomēr arī priekš bērnu grāmatiņas man trūka tēlu un teksta dažādības un dziļuma.

A beautifully illustrated picture book about an otter who has wonderful neighbors. When he moves in, they come to visit and are ready to help in any way they can.
The book also explores the theme of accepting the different, though I felt even for a children’s book it lacked diversity and depth in both its characters and text.



Thank you to @netgalley team and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rural Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a free advance copy of this book.

Otter moves into a new home, and one by one the neighbors from around the lake stop by to help Otter get settled in his new home.

The illustrations in this story are very cute, and the story evokes warmth and happiness. Its weaknesses is the lack of story development. The words are very basic and essentially just describe what is happening in the pictures. Overall this is a nice little story, but it does not stand out in the world of children's books.

[Liz Benbow · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are absolutely adorable and easily the highlight of the entire experience. The artwork has a warm, cozy feel.. While the story about an otter and his neighbors is sweet and emphasizes themes of teamwork and kindness, the plot itself is quite simple. The text is very descriptive and straightforward, which makes it a great choice for children ages 3–5. It is a gentle, visually stunning read that is perfect for a preschooler’s bedtime, even if the narrative doesn't offer many surprises.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Olive · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otter is so cute!

In this short story, Otter moves into a new house. His new house is empty, but that's okay! He has lots of new neighbors to help him.

The artwork in this book is gorgeous. Otter and his new neighbors are all so beautifully drawn. I loved Bear SO much.

I just wish it were longer. I think Otter could do lots of new things at the lake. Perhaps visit a cafe or get a new job! Otter has a lot of potential.

Thank you graciously to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 📚

⭐ 3.75

[Stef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the copy of this ebook.

The illustrations in this book were really cute. This book gives a good lesson for kids and adults alike that making new friends is a good thing and that your community can be built up by your neighbors. It also gives the message that teamwork goes a lot further than working alone. After Bear broke all of Otters new gifts, the whole crew came together to make Otters items even better. The end result is that Otter is very happy to have moved to the lake.

I recommend for parents of younger kids.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otter moves to the lake and at first is all alone. One by one, his neighbors show up with gifts to make his new house a home. When something unexpected happens, the neighbors all come together to help one another and make everyone welcome. This is a beautifully illustrated book that celebrates diversity and the good that everyone can bring.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book for kids really of all ages. I homeschool and have children from 4-12 years old. I particularly loved the author notes at the end as this helped me dive deeper for my older kids while keeping it simple for my younger kids. The illustrations were beautifully done and the story kept my kids engaged from start to finish. I highly recommend adding this to your children’s bookshelf. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

[One Enchanted Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otter-ly Adorable! The main message conveyed in this book is how others kindness makes an impact on others. For otter to let every animal in, even bear, made all of the other animals look at bear as a friend as well. This story could be a good talking point about acceptance of everyone.

I received this book as an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. Thank you to the Author and Publisher to review this book.

[Shannon Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book has some cute ideas, such as the various animals welcoming their new neighbor Otter with gifts that highlight their particular skill. I do wish the concerns about Bear joining had been more explicit- I think it might go over kids heads that people had a bias against Bear that wasn't fair to Bear, and could have been better about highlighting how letting new people in can lead to good things too. But overall it is a cute story!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author and to Netgalley for our Arc copy.

We adored this book my daughter screamed bear when were trying to figure out who was at the door. She was excited to see all the different animals coming up to otters door. For a book that was translated it was extremely easy to follow and really fun for the little ones.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is was such a sweet little story. I read it with my 4 & 8 year old granddaughters and they loved it. They thought the artwork was very good. They loved the part where the bear was stuck in the door. Overall a great story about welcoming all to your community and making adjustments in life as needed.

[Elizabeth Stiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminded me of Winnie the Pooh, but with an otter. Which I have realize it is the only thing missing in the Hundred Acre Wood.

It’s a very sweet story, with uplifting morals and lovely illustrations. I enjoyed reading the author’s note in the back. Totes adorbs and would feel confident giving it to 3-5 year olds.

[BooksAsDreams (Tiffany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Author’s Note at the end is a beautiful touch. Each animal represents a trait everyone hungers for in companionship. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC. The otter is so cute! The words are a little too small to read. The illustrations are great, but could be more robust.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A nice story about Otter moving into his new home, and along comes his new neighbors with gifts for him. Lovely illustrations and cute story.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really sweet story of a critter community coming together when Otter moves to the lake-- and helping out his fellow neighbors in return for their generosity! I would love to live alongside Otter and his new friends!

[Laurel Zeisler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations were very pretty. Unfortunately, I didn't care for the story. Yes, it was about sharing and found family, but it wasn't anything new. Sorry.

[Shazzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, funny story, and beautiful illustrations!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute children's story! The story is sweet and has good lessons involved in it. This books is also very well illustrated with the cutest little animals and illustrations!

[Zsófi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for providing the ARC!

This was utterly adorable! I loved the art, it was very detailed and bright, perfect for the target audience. The world is pretty basic and the story could have used a bit more meat, but the message was clear.