Otter Goes Swimming

An easy-to-read story about Otter's backyard swimming pool.

Otter is going to learn to swim at the beach--if she can get over her fear of the sea.

In this endearing and beautifully illustrated picture book, a baby river otter learns to swim, dive, and play in her natural habitat. Encouraged by her mother, the little otter soon sets out to explore on her own, quickly learning to escape shoreline predators and to find her way back to the security of home. From children’s author Artie Knapp and wildlife artist Guy Hobbs, Little Otter Learns to Swim is an entertaining and colorful tale for ages four and up. The story is followed by two pages of fun facts about river otters as well as information and resources from the River Otter Ecology Project.

Early morning at low tide, three little otters were led by their mother over the rocks and over the seaweed to the shoreline. It is time now for your swimming lesson, she said. You'll love swimming. But the little otters are not so certain, and as their mother starts to pick them up one by one, the littlest escapes. He suns himself on a rock, and falls asleep until he hears his family whistling. Water has surrounded his rock and now he must make a decision...

Because none of the other animals will play with him, Joshie the sea otter swims too far out to sea, but he is called back by a song sung in the strong safe voice of his mother.

In this book, readers will learn ten things they "otter" know about sea otters, including information about their coats, how they eat, and how they take care of their young.

With his mother's help, a young otter overcomes his fear of the water and discovers the pleasures of swimming.

Oliver's parents soon realise that he is special when he is taken for his first swimming lesson, because, most unnaturally for an otter, Oliver does not like water. 5-8 yrs.