In this quiet story by Dubuc (Up the Mountain Path), the unidentified creature who appears in front of squirrel Otto's tree trunk dwelling isn't just uninvited, he's inconvenient... Slowly, Otto realizes that Pio is generous and helpful. And when Pio rescues him from a frightening predator, he decides that it might be worth making room to accommodate his new friend. Dubuc doesn't insist that readers warm right up to new or strange situations. It takes a long time, sometimes, for creatures to learn to love each other.
- Publishers Weekly Starred Review
In this quiet story by Dubuc (Up the Mountain Path), the unidentified creature who appears in front of squirrel Otto's tree trunk dwelling isn't just uninvited, he's inconvenient... Slowly, Otto realizes that Pio is generous and helpful. And when Pio rescues him from a frightening predator, he decides that it might be worth making room to accommodate his new friend. Dubuc doesn't insist that readers warm right up to new or strange situations. It takes a long time, sometimes, for creatures to learn to love each other.
- Publishers Weekly Starred Review
"A family tale that teaches children how love makes a home. Dubuc has created a simple and beautiful story that is perfectly matched with her intricate illustrations. The colors are soft and bright, giving readers a warm fuzzy feeling as they travel through the story. The entire book is clean and simple, not too difficult to follow, and explains an often-complex relationship in the best way possible. This engaging read-aloud will warm children's hearts. It has a terrific message about the importance of family and how to care for those you love. An excellent and timeless selection for all picture book shelves."
- School Library Journal (STARRED Review)
"A family tale that teaches children how love makes a home. Dubuc has created a simple and beautiful story that is perfectly matched with her intricate illustrations. The colors are soft and bright, giving readers a warm fuzzy feeling as they travel through the story. The entire book is clean and simple, not too difficult to follow, and explains an often-complex relationship in the best way possible. This engaging read-aloud will warm children's hearts. It has a terrific message about the importance of family and how to care for those you love. An excellent and timeless selection for all picture book shelves."
- School Library Journal (STARRED Review)
"This book is a lovely reminder that you don't need to be related to be family."
- Bookish
"This book is a lovely reminder that you don't need to be related to be family."
- Bookish
"Marianne Dubuc's newest story, Otto and Pio, is a charming take on finding friendship and family when you least expect it. Your kids will laugh at the friendship these characters share."
- Cool Mom Picks
"Marianne Dubuc's newest story, Otto and Pio, is a charming take on finding friendship and family when you least expect it. Your kids will laugh at the friendship these characters share."
- Cool Mom Picks
" The pacing and feelings ring true in this heartwarming depiction of someone accustomed to being the center of his universe but who responds to the impulse of hospitality and friendship."
- Kirkus Reviews
" The pacing and feelings ring true in this heartwarming depiction of someone accustomed to being the center of his universe but who responds to the impulse of hospitality and friendship."
- Kirkus Reviews
"Dubuc's soft watercolor-and-pencil illustrations unfold as individual scenes-often two per page-that trace Otto's fruitless search and Pio's astonishing growth, which poses a whole new set of problems. Pio steadily turns Otto's house into a home by cleaning, decorating, and making soup while Otto is away. These small acts are heartwarming for readers and Otto alike, effectively demonstrating how love and family can come in all shapes and sizes."
- Booklist
"Dubuc's soft watercolor-and-pencil illustrations unfold as individual scenes-often two per page-that trace Otto's fruitless search and Pio's astonishing growth, which poses a whole new set of problems. Pio steadily turns Otto's house into a home by cleaning, decorating, and making soup while Otto is away. These small acts are heartwarming for readers and Otto alike, effectively demonstrating how love and family can come in all shapes and sizes."
- Booklist
"The soft, warm watercolor and colored-pencil palette of the forest and Otto's home provides the perfect backdrop to diffuse tension within this developing friendship. Full of funny moments and details, the full-page illustrations and spot art move the plot along, while well-placed double-page spreads pause the tale to heighten its emotion. This tender look at the value of taking care of each other quietly considers the meaning of home and family."
- The Horn Book Magazine
"The soft, warm watercolor and colored-pencil palette of the forest and Otto's home provides the perfect backdrop to diffuse tension within this developing friendship. Full of funny moments and details, the full-page illustrations and spot art move the plot along, while well-placed double-page spreads pause the tale to heighten its emotion. This tender look at the value of taking care of each other quietly considers the meaning of home and family."
- The Horn Book Magazine
"Marianne Dubuc's delightful tale of oddball friendship and unexpected domesticity."
- The Wall Street Journal
"Marianne Dubuc's delightful tale of oddball friendship and unexpected domesticity."
- The Wall Street Journal
★ 02/01/2019
PreS-Gr 2—A family tale that teaches children how love makes a home. When Otto the squirrel finds a small furry creature named Pio, he shelters him while searching for Pio's origins. As the search goes on Otto comes to love his new hazelnut-eating, soup-making, caring child. Eventually Pio becomes too big for Otto's treetop house and Otto becomes upset and leaves, but Pio follows and helps Otto realize that they are a family and that maybe some big problems are not actually that big. Dubuc has created a simple and beautiful story that is perfectly matched with her intricate illustrations. The colors are soft and bright, giving readers a warm fuzzy feeling as they travel through the story. Each illustration reveals small details of Otto and Pio's individual personalities, but also their growing familial relationship. The entire book is clean and simple, not too difficult to follow, and explains an often-complex relationship in the best way possible. This engaging read-aloud will warm children's hearts. It has a terrific message about the importance of family and how to care for those you love. VERDICT An excellent and timeless selection for all picture book shelves. —Margaret Kennelly, iSchool at Urbana-Champaign, IL
