Expect this whimsical and gorgeously illustrated picture book to infect children with an urge to go exploring, if not bird-spotting. Otto’s family are obsessive bird-spotters, indeed, so deep is their passion that they’ve turned their home into a hide. Otto though loves exploring and it’s on one of his trips that he finds, and secretly brings home, a very unusual baby bird. He’s able to hide it from his family because his new friend proves surprisingly good at camouflage. But, as the bird grows (and grows), Otto realises that it’s missing its family and recruits his own to help track them down. There’s lots to enjoy in the story and Graham Carter’s glowing illustrations are full of treats too, the camouflage scenes are particularly delightful. A funny, original story with satisfying underlying themes of adventure, friendship and family.
The Blotter family are famous bird spotters, who stay in their hide all day. All except for Otto - he'd rather go out and have big adventures. When he follows the BIGGEST footprints he's ever seen, he finds an extraordinary baby bird all on its own. Otto's new friend soon reveals a very special ability: camouflage! But the bird keeps growing and growing, and Otto begins to suspect it may have a family after all... perhaps the time has come to take him home? Keen-eyed readers may spot the bird's giant family hidden on the pages, if they're good enough bird spotters!
Graham Carter is a printmaker with a huge following who is stepping into the world of picture books. His illustrations can be spotted in a wide variety of publications such as The New Scientist, The Guardian and The Sunday Times. Graham lives Seaford with his wife and son, and can often be found printing, sketching and making a mess in his studio in Brighton.
