Kristi Jemtegaard
How this little left-behind machine goes from has-been to hero is an all-too-familiar but nonetheless satisfying trope that will leave young readers with smiles as big as Otis's goofy grin. Loren Long's almost monochromatic palette, punctuated by reds and yellows, focuses all the attention exactly where it needs to be: on the David-and-Goliath disparity between Otis and his replacement.
—The Washington Post
Publishers Weekly
Readers of classic children's books will find traces of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Little Toot and The Story of Ferdinand in this story of “a friendly little tractor.” Otis the tractor loves to work as much as he loves to play. When he snores in the barn, his “soft putt puff puttedy chuff” consoles a motherless calf. Otis and the calf become pals, and Long (who reillustrated The Little Engine That Could) pictures them sitting under a tree in Ferdinand the bull's iconic pose. Yet this idyll cannot last. Otis's owner (no loyal Mike Mulligan) purchases a huge “brand-new yellow tractor” and puts Otis out to pasture, where “the weeds began to cover his tires.” Only when the calf gets stuck in a muddy pond does Otis rev to the rescue. Long fashions Otis's headlamps as eyes and accents the charcoal gray and fawn brown gouache with apple red, buttery yellow and denim blue. Resurrecting stories of sweet machines aiding helpless animals is not easy in an era concerned with fossil fuels and feedlots, but Long's story should inspire readers to revisit old favorites. Ages 3–5. (Sept.)
Booklist
Long's terrific fluid artwork...will entertain kids...even more, the tale's smoothly rounded nostalgic flare will charm adults tasked with reading the tale aloud.
Children's Literature
- Sharon Salluzzo
Otis was a friendly little tractor who worked hard all day and played hard when work was done. One night, Otis calmed a scared baby calf with his "soft putt puff puttedy chuff" sound. That was it for the calf. From that time on the little calf followed Otis everywhere. They played games together and even sat under the apple tree together. When the farmer bought a brand-new big yellow tractor, Otis was relegated to a spot behind the barn. The little tractor was so depressed that he was no longer needed that he did not even play with the calf. All alone, the calf wandered off and got stuck in Mud Pond. She sank deeper and deeper no matter how hard the rescuers tried. Finally, Otis arrived and knew just how to get the little calf to come out of Mud Pond. While his artwork may be reminiscent of Virginia Lee Burton and Robert Lawson (you can see some strong resemblances to Ferdinand), Long's story and art are definitely his own. The landscapes are done in shades of browns and grays with muted color tones applied to the machinery, animals and people. They just pop off the page. Interesting roof angles, a farmhouse on stilts, and the retro look will intrigue young listeners. Children can easily relate to the story which unfolds at a very nice pace. The clean, crisp illustrations work beautifully together with this good old-fashioned story which is just perfect for storyhour. It is a great gift book. What a wonderful book for parents and young children to share! Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2—Otis is a fun-loving tractor who roams the fields after a hard day's work and plays in the haystacks. In the barn one night, his engine provides a gentle purr that helps a frightened young calf fall into a peaceful sleep. The two become inseparable. That is, until the farmer decides to upgrade and brings home a brand-new, shiny yellow tractor and relegates Otis to the weeds behind the building. Having outlived his usefulness, Otis just sits there, impervious to the calf's call to play. But when his friend gets stuck in Mud Pond and no one—not even the fire department—can pull her out, the feisty tractor revs his engine ("putt puff puttedy chuff") and saves the day. His heroism and concern for a friend are themes that will appeal to young readers. Long's gouache and pencil artwork is stunning with a red and cream main character against a sepia-toned monochromatic background. The overall effect is nostalgic and comforting as readers bond with the determined little tractor. In the end, Otis finds a place on the farm where his engine's soft purr can be put to good use. This satisfying conclusion that speaks of a place for everyone is sure to ring true to children.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Kirkus Reviews
Continuing to find inspiration in the work of Virginia Lee Burton, Munro Leaf and other illustrators of the past, Long (The Little Engine That Could, 2005) offers an aw-shucks friendship tale that features a small but hardworking tractor ("putt puff puttedy chuff") with a Little Toot-style face and a big-eared young descendant of Ferdinand the bull who gets stuck in deep, gooey mud. After the big new yellow tractor, crowds of overalls-clad locals and a red fire engine all fail to pull her out, the little tractor (who had been left behind the barn to rust after the arrival of the new tractor) comes putt-puff-puttedy-chuff-ing down the hill to entice his terrified bovine buddy successfully back to dry ground. Short on internal logic but long on creamy scenes of calf and tractor either gamboling energetically with a gaggle of McCloskey-like geese through neutral-toned fields or resting peacefully in the shade of a gnarled tree (apple, not cork), the episode will certainly draw nostalgic adults. Considering the author's track record and influences, it may find a welcome from younger audiences too. (Picture book. 5-8)
