SEE OTTO

“Look, here comes Otto!” Milgrim (My Friend Lucky, 2002, etc.) introduces a robot named Otto in the first of a series for emergent readers, and he succeeds quite well in telling a complete and humorous story using a basic vocabulary of just 21 words. Otto is a robot from another planet who falls to earth when his spaceship runs out of gas. (“See Otto fall.”) He meets an unfriendly rhinoceros who gives chase. (“Run, Otto, run!”) The rhino tosses Otto into a tree where some friendly monkeys are painting, causing the monkeys, Otto, and the paint pots to tumble to the ground. (“See paint fly.”) Though the limited vocabulary imposes its own restraints, Milgrim uses visual humor with a touch of irony to craft a real story with enough action to appeal to new readers. His illustrations have a bold flair with thick black outlines, a contemporary pastel palette of cool colors, and an appealing main character who seems ready to get into more mischief with those monkeys. The next story in the series is also available (Ride, Otto, Ride, ISBN: 0-689-84417-4). More, Otto, more. (Easy reader. 5-7)