Narwhal's Otter Friend (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #4)
“Clanton’s Narwhal and Jelly follow in the grand tradition of early reader buddy tales like Frog and Toad or Elephant and Piggie, and this latest tale is sure to find an honored place alongside them on young readers’ bookshelves.”
When best buds Narwhal and Jelly come across Otter exploring the deeps, Narwhal thinks it’s “otterly awesome” that they met. Jelly isn’t too sure. Otter goes on and on about his adventures surfing with seals and partying with penguins, but when he mentions meeting a mermaid, Narwhal says, “That’s mer-aculous!” “And unbelievable,” says Jelly sourly.
Readers will relate to this sweet, simple tale of what happens to a friendship when a new friend comes into the picture, and Jelly the jellyfish’s obvious jealousy will have them chuckling with recognition. Jelly’s worst fears are realized when Narwhal gets the idea to go on an adventure together with his new pal. “Does this mean we’re friends?” asks Otter. “Pretty much!” says Narwhal.
Stung by feeling displaced in Narwhal’s affections, Jelly tries to cozy up to various other sea denizens, to no avail. Finally, he ends up befriending a rock he dubs Rocky, not the most interactive of buddies. When Narwhal and Otter encounter him, Jelly says he and his new friend have been playing “oodles of awesome games . . . Go Fish . . . Marco Polo . . . Staring Contests . . . Rocky is really good at those.”
Of course, Narwhal and Otter never intended to leave Jelly out of the picture. The jellyfish’s jealousy is resolved when the others invite him to join them on the “awesomest adventure ever,” and the three friends swim off with cries of “Seas the day!” and “Ahoy, adventure!”
Clanton’s charming illustrations are witty and expressive, rendered in a limited undersea palette, and the simple text is loaded with bad puns and whimsy. (Narwhal’s favorite meal is waffles!) Clanton’s Narwhal and Jelly follow in the grand tradition of early reader buddy tales like Frog and Toad or Elephant and Piggie, and this latest tale is sure to find an honored place alongside them on young readers’ bookshelves.