King Otter

What happens, on finding a box full of splendid clothes, boots and a crown? Well, Otter feels just kingly. As he tries them on he feels taller, more exciting and extra specially handsome. He decides he must be KING Otter, and he starts commanding the animals to bow down to him, to make him a throne, and they do. He felt he must be seen as king by all the inhabitants of the countryside, and commands a Grand Parade, and a golden coach to be pulled by unicorns. Despite the squirrels trying to tell him that unicorns don’t really… the birds, squirrels and hedgehogs all do as commanded. The ‘unicorns’ bravely pull the coach up the hill, as King Otter demands more speed. Look at the picture, the hedgehogs wearing their tied-on unicorn horns! Pride comes before….. CRASH! The silken ropes snap and the golden coach rolls back down the hill, tumbling the otter into the mud. His squeals for help are ignored. Nobody comes. ‘Treason! Treachery!’ Otter shrieks. Left alone, he ponders on his behaviour. The end of the story sees Otter asking to join in the other animals’ games, and they readily agree. A great little fable about the importance of friendship, delightfully told and beautifully illustrated. Children will love to examine the expressions on the faces of all the different creatures, executed with just a few deft strokes, and maybe draw their own versions of these characters.