Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

This graphic novel for younger readers is adorable. I like that the characters are different and because of this, they help each other deal with things. It reminds me of Elephant & Piggy, which is more of a picture book/early reader.
Graphic novels are fantastic ways to build confidence as readers grow. It is important to have a variety of options to appeal to different readers. This will be a perfect addition to any library collection and I highly recommend it.

A collection of 3 stories this book is the perfect amounts cute and funny. Otis and peanut the perfect foils for each other and kids will want to hear these stories over and over again. The text is short and simple and each story is the perfect bite sized length. Sure to be enjoyed by children of all ages.

I just love Otis and Peanut and to think that I didn't think that I would love it as much as I did. But it goes to show you can't judge a book by it's cover.

Otis & Peanut are friends and together tackle anything that comes their way. This heartwarming book will help readers deal with tough emotions and situations. Hrab has mad the short stories in graphic novel form easy to understand and straight forward. The illustrations are simple and expressive which adds a layer of depth.

At face value, Otis & Peanut is like a lot of early graphic novels currently on the market. Think Narwhal and Jelly or Shark and Bot. Even the title has the same construction. Now, those other books can be a lot of fun. They're silly and reach beginning readers with their easy to follow text and engaging illustrations. Otis & Peanut has those same elements. This book includes three stories where the pair work through some challenge together. These appear simple but, as with a Frog and Toad story, the simplicity masks a deeper reflection on life and identity. A fear of getting a haircut or the changes that come with moving house are met with funny solutions but also examine change and being true to yourself. And then there's "The Swing", where Otis and Peanut remember a friend who is gone. They discuss grief and how even remembering the good things is painful. This is a sweet, heartfelt story that may be a little emotionally intense for some but is beautiful anyway. Much as with Frog and Toad, this may be a book that will be appreciated by children in a surface way and on a much deeper level by their parents.

This was a fun book to read. In each short story, we saw these two friends help each other through a problem. Along the way they usually ended up learning a good lesson. Most people will have a great time reading this book.

Here are three simple tales of friendship told in graphic novel style for early readers. They revolve around a long-haired guinea pig and a naked mole rat. Their friendship is already well established, and references to other missing characters made me wonder if this wasn't a later volume in a series, but I'm guessing the little ones won't mind this.

The limited color palette and bold graphics are appealing, and I honestly found these two just as charming as a certain elephant and piggie I know.

This book is super cute and 3 best friends stories! Otis and Peanut get a haircut, swing on the swings, and decorate the house. It has some nice underlying messages about remembering friends not with us and embracing change.

This book is in a comic type style which is great for younger readers and keeps kids interested. My second grader loved this book and it was a great level for her since she read the whole book without and difficulty. The best part was that she stayed interested from beginning to end.

The pictures are simple, but have that yellow and bright feel. It is just a happy book overall and teaches deeper meanings with ease.

Thank you to Owlkids and Netgalley for providing me a copy of the ARC for my honest review.

This heartwarming children's book is being marketed as a graphic novel but feels very much like a picture book to me. That said, both formats are good? Especially when the story and art are both so strong.

Our title characters are best friends. Otis is a long-haired guinea pig while Peanut is a naked mole rat. Over the course of the three stories collected here, the besties face a number of surprisingly complex challenges together, and deal with them sensitively and with a load of heart. Best of all, the situations they face are not uncommon for any young reader, and help set a template for how to grapple with each circumstance.

In the first and perhaps silliest of the stories, Otis needs a haircut but is afraid it will hurt. Peanut would like a haircut but doesn't have any hair, so the two decide that a wardrobe update might help Peanut with a well-needed change.

In the second story, The Swing, our friends talk about how much Otis misses Pearl. The circumstances of why Pearl is gone are never discussed, but the friends talk about how hard it is to miss someone while also having happy memories of them.

The last story, The House, is a thoughtful look at what makes a house a home. And then be still my heart: a recipe for baked potatoes!

Never one to shy away from a new recipe, I decided to try out the very kid-friendly recipe for Peanut's Perfect Baked Potatoes For Two. It's simple, but I did have to consult with the Bon Appetit website to make sure I was doing it right when the potatoes still felt firm after forty-five minutes of baking. One tip for those doing this at home: at the point where the recipe asks you to gently squeeze the potatoes for doneness, they should yield softly to the pressure. Let them keep baking at 350F in ten minute increments until that happens! I used a pair of tongs for this so as not to singe my fingers, and to take the potatoes out of and replace them in the oven.

I was also very generous with the olive oil and garlic salt when first coating the potatoes for baking. As a precautionary measure, I decided to place some foil under the baking potatoes on the rack, which definitely caught a bit of the oil from dripping onto the bottom of the stove. My generosity with the oil and salt also made it so I didn't have to add any extra salt at the end, after fluffing up the delicious insides. Just butter (and, as a personal preference, fresh cracked black pepper) made this a perfect meal for a potato-lover like myself. My husband added sour cream to his. My kids did not partake, tho two of them took almost as great a pleasure from helping me poke the potatoes as I did from eating the final result (pictures at <a href="https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2023/04/20/otis-peanut-by-naseem-hrab-kelly-collier/">TheFrumiousConsortium.net</a>.)

Naseem Hrab writes the recipe with as much charm and verve as the rest of this thoughtful book, that goes where few general interest picture books tend to venture. Her words are accompanied by Kelly Collier's engaging, expressive art and bold, minimalist color palette. Ms Collier's illustrations are perfect for the story, conveying so much emotion and context without ever overwhelming the pages. This was a wholly satisfying book that invites kid and caretaker engagement with the content, while also providing a fun, if not outright nourishing activity for afterwards. Recommended, especially when dealing with similar complicated situations in a kid's life.

Otis & Peanut by Naseem Hrab & Kelly Collier was published April 18 2023 by Owlkids and is available from all good booksellers, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15382/9781771474962">Bookshop!</a>

In a Nutshell: A collection of three stories featuring two friends. Written in graphic novel format for early readers. Simple storyline, nice themes.

Otis, a long-haired guinea pig, and Peanut, a naked mole rat, are the best of friends. Through three stories, we get to see their bond with each other, and also explore some interesting themes.
Story 1: The Haircut: Highlights the fear of change and how helpful it is to have someone motivate you towards a new step.
Story 2: The Swing: Talks of feeling low when you are missing someone, and how it is okay to feel sad and happy at the same time.
Story 3: The House: Indicates what can make a house a home.

The first story was the best one for me in terms of execution (the right mixture of fun plus friendship), and the second was the best in terms of theme. I liked how the second story only mentions someone named ‘Pearl’ whom Otis misses, but doesn’t indicate who Pearl is or how she is missing. The moral could thus be extended to help with something as grave as the death of a loved one or something relatively more common as a close friend’s moving to another place.

There’s a recipe for “Peanut’s Perfect Baked Potatoes for Two” at the end of the book, along with clear instructions of where to involve an adult in the cooking process. Appreciate that!

The art style is quirky but I guess it works for the age group. There aren’t too many colours in use, keeping the palette as simple as the storyline. The graphic novel structure is excellently used, with the flow of panels and speech bubbles being easy and comfortable for little readers.

However, a few points could have elevated this book to a memorable one:
• There’s no introduction to Otis and Peanut. Given that this is the first book of a planned series, it would have been good for the book to start with a brief intro of the two main characters. Heck, I didn’t even understand what animals they were until I reread the blurb before writing this review.
• The stories are too varied in theme. While they attempt to balance seriousness and humour, the lack of a connecting thread makes the flow seem very random.
• The third story, while having some humorous scenes, feels very staid in comparison with the first two.

The book is officially aimed at little readers aged 6-8, but I honestly think that this is too simplistic for most eight-year-olds. It will work much better with a younger target segment, say 4-6 year olds.

All in all, it’s not a bad book, but it didn’t satisfy my heart the way children’s books usually do. Recommended to early readers who love comic-style stories with a strong theme of friendship.

3.5 stars, rounding up.

My thanks to Owlkids Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “Otis & Peanut”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Although I loved the illustrations, I found the story line to be lacking. The book is okay, but I am not planning on purchasing for my school library.

I received an electronic ARC from Owlkids Books through NetGalley.
The start of a new series for lower elementary level readers. Otis and Peanut are friends who support each other and play together. As the story unfolds, they address a third character who is no longer there. Hrab never explains why Pearl is no longer with them but the grief is an undertone. Otis shares his feelings and Peanut supports his friend by being there and listening.
The book is set with three chapters that are different stories. The text is simple to follow for younger readers, and the illustrations capture the character moods well. Terrific book to have for those who have suffered a loss of any sort as it will open dialogue on their own feelings.

A fun, graphic take on friendship showing kids that good friends are accepting no matter what. Each story gives a helpful life lesson that kids will enjoy- a great easy read. Full of lessons, it also has a lot of silliness which will appeal to kids as they read. Great for youth ages 5 to 11.

This early graphic novel features three chapters about 2 friends. Filled with humor, friendship and great illustrations the stories are designed to help alleviate common situations that a young child may fear: getting a first haircut, feeling sad because a friend has moved away, and making a new house seem like a home. The dialogue is almost like therapy on a young child's level as the friends - together - work to identify the problems and feelings and then to work to make everything better. A little too long for a Storytime but a book I would definitely recommend to parents looking to help their child through an emotional time.

Oh, my goodness, this book has my heart. Otis & Peanut are the best of friends, teaching each other lessons that will last a lifetime, This book reminds me of Elephant & Piggie by Mo Willems and is sure to capture students' attention with the whimsical drawings and engaging situations. I can't wait to share it.

Otis & Peanut are really cute characters. I really enjoyed the first story in this three story book. Otis is worried about getting a haircut but with Peanut's ingenuity, Otis is able to overcome their hesitations at their own pace. The second and third story did not feel as tight with the concept. The Swing is clearly about loss or missing a friend, but that it was unclear to the reader whether this story was about missing someone who has gone away or if this was a loss. It would be helpful if this was clear as it could lead to some great discussions for kids about death and grief or moving away and losing touch. The house story again did not feel as flushed out.

This is a story about two friends who know the importance of being there for each other through good times and hard times. This book is told in graphic format. It is written in an easy to read language for early elementary readers. There is just enough repetition in the writing to help those who are still learning to read but who want to explore this format of writing. Early readers will be drawn to the friendship described between Otis and Peanut. They will be able to relate to the humor, the sadness, the loss, and the comfort of sharing daily activities with a good friend. I highly recommend this book for early elementary readers and will be ready to place it on my library bookshelf when it is ready to purchase.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review the ARC of Otis and Peanut.

This is an early reader comic about best friends Otis and Peanut. I didn't expect this short comic book to pack such a punch. There are three "chapters" within this book. The first story revolves around Otis needing a haircut and being nervous, and Peanut showing him that it's okay to look a little different that you are still you.

The second story is called 'Swing,' and Otis is sad because he is grieving for a friend named Pearl. This chapter was sweet and melancholy, as Peanut lets Otis know that it is okay to let yourself be sad. Otis says, "Peanut, I think I'll always be a little sad. Even when I'm happy." Peanut then says, "It's okay to feel two things at the same time, Otis." This chapter will be a strong one for any family dealing with grief.

The third chapter is about Otis making his house a home, and what he is doing to make it so. This was a beautiful comic full of heart, a wonderful supportive friendship, along with having bright pops of color to appeal to young readers.

I highly recommend this comic!

A fun graphic novel for chapter book readers. I couldn't decide what type of creatures Otis and Peanut are, but I love how they model the give and take of friendship. A lot of depth in simple stories.