After a hard day’s work, Otis the tractor loves to play with all his animal friends on the farm, except the mean bull who lives alone in his pen and snorts, snarls and frightens anyone who comes near. One day when a tornado is headed toward the farm, Otis heroically springs into action to save his animal friends, leading them to safety from the storm. Despite his fear of the bull, Otis also courageously saves the terrified animal from his pen just in time. The ending is happy one, with the tornado-damaged farm restored and all the animals as friends, including one very grateful bull.

Otis and the Tornado is an exceptional children’s book in virtually every way. The book’s endearing storyline does a tremendous job of addressing two often frightful topics – bullying and tornadoes – in a warm, unthreatening way, while also interweaving strong values and morals such as friendship, bravery and determination throughout the text. Furthermore, the author’s use of figurative language, such onomatopoeia, repetition and imagery, introduce literary devices to young readers in an instructive and playful way. The illustrations are equally outstanding and enhance the story. The book’s soft, subdued color palette forms the perfect sepia-toned background for the bright, shiny red protagonist. The illustrations appropriately convey action and emotion that young children can relate to. Otis and the Tornado is destined to become a classic in children’s literature. Highly recommended. Kirsten Setzkorn, Centennial Library Intern, Cedarville University