Kirkus Review
Otto belongs to a family of obsessed bird-watchers so besotted with birds that they have turned their home into an elaborate and fanciful bird blind. Otto, however, prefers exploring the world to sitting at home in the blind. One day he finds a massive bird footprint, an even larger pile of "poo," and finally an unusual little bird, best described as a yellow blob. Otto scoops it up and keeps it at home in spite of a family ban on pets. The bird begins to grow rapidly, and Otto is unable to conceal it any longer. Oddly, the bird can camouflage its burgeoning self in any setting, and so the pair continues on its travels, unobserved by the public. When a trip to the zoo makes the bird sad, Otto realizes that it is missing its family. Constructing "the tallest bird-spotting tower ever built," Otto's family soon locates the missing bird parents, who are large yellow blobs, similar to their offspring. Bird-watching theme notwithstanding, this wacky, visually exuberant offering is not hampered by connections to the real world; although many birds, real and imaginary, are pictured, not one is ever identified. Carter's multihued illustrations have an intriguing amount of detail and make the most of varied perspectives, helping to compensate for the rather lackluster plot. Otto and his family present white.Silly fun for fans of whimsy if not for budding bird-watchers. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Otto's family are great birders, but Otto prefers to seek adventure rather than spend his days behind a pair of binoculars. While out exploring, he stumbles across a nest containing one unusual baby bird. Otto names the feathered creature Bird and takes it back to his room, though pets aren't permitted in the Blotter household. Otto's attempts to keep the fledgling hidden become increasingly difficult as the bird grows very large very quickly. Bird has two unique talents, one of which is the ability to blend, chameleon-like, into any background, invisible to everyone except Otto. Readers will easily spot Bird as he is conveniently, though subtly, outlined. When Otto becomes aware that his new pal is sad, he doesn't hesitate in enlisting the rest of the Blotter family to aid in reuniting Bird with his missing family. Bird's second talent comes into play at this point, enabling his story to end happily. Illustrator and printmaker Carter offers pictures in varying sizes with intricate details that may spark an interest in a heretofore unknown pastime.--Maryann Owen Copyright 2010 Booklist
