Jonathan London has written more than one hundred picture books for children, many of them about wildlife. He is also the author of the popular Froggy series. He lives with his wife in northern California. www.jonathan-london.net.
Sean London received a BFA from CalArts in Character Animation and has done animation for Disney. He has also collaborated with his father on the Aaron’s Wilderness series: Desolation Canyon, Bella Bella, and Grizzly Peak.
"In 'Pup The Sea Otter', children ages 4 to 8 will watch Pup grow
from his birth to first dive and from rambunctious play with other
pups to a frightening encounter with a predator. Pup’s story is
told by author Jonathan London in a sparse, poetic text with vivid
vocabulary which is enhanced with the backdrop of luminous
illustrations by Sean London. Together the narrative and the
artwork effectively combine to bring the adorable Pup and his
loving mother to life within the swirling sea around them. Of
special notice is the author’s note at the end shares fascinating
facts about this popular keystone species. 'Pup The Sea Otter' is
certain to be an enduringly popular and beloved addition to family,
preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book
collections." — Midwest Book Review
"This fun, narrative-driven title covers the first eight months of
Pup's (a sea otter) life. Readers watch how Pup's mother cares for
him; how he eats, sleeps, and plays; and how he begins to grow and
scavenge for his own food. Yet not all is tranquil: suspense builds
when Pup is interrupted by a preying shark. Set in verse, peppered
with onomatopoeia ("munch crunch munch!") and dramatic sounds
("Eeeeeeeee!"), this is a fine selection for read-alouds. The
occasional use of large, swirly fonts, though attractive, will
likely render the text unreadable by the intended audience. The
soft, gentle illustrations focus on Pup and his mother; the
background is largely sparse, so readers' eyes will naturally be
drawn to the animals. London does not cite resources or suggestions
for further study, but a page-long author's note offers some
statistics about the creature. It also mentions that almost half of
the sea otter pup population die every year, mostly from oil spills
or pollution, issues that are not discussed in Pup's tale. VERDICT
Consider for educational storytimes or as a bridge from picture
books to light nonfiction." —School Library Journal, Elissa Cooper,
Helen Plum Memorial Library, Lombard, IL
"(Nature, Baby Animals, Growing-Up) From the instant of his birth
until the moment he is grown enough to leave his mother, Pup the
Sea Otter’s life is filled with love, excitement, and new
experiences. Although at first he is dependent on his mother’s
protection and her milk for survival, Pup soon learns more: what to
eat and how to dive for food, when to watch out for predators, and
how to play with the other Pups. Following Pup’s life story, young
readers learn that it is ok to look for help from time to time, and
that however frightening growing-up may be, life is one big,
exciting adventure. Pup the Sea Otter is a non-fiction book told in
a narrative style that is engaging and captivating. Sensory
language invites the reader to empathize with Pup’s experiences,
while Sean London’s colorful and life-like illustrations draw the
reader in to Pup’s watery world. Particularly intriguing about this
narrative is the dual perspective from which it is told: rather
than focusing exclusively on the perspective of the Pup, the story
begins with a perspective split between Pup and his mother, and
only gradually shifts to being exclusively from Pup’s perspective.
Mimicking the increasing awareness and independence of a child as
he or she grows up, this subtle approach not only teaches the child
about this fascinating animals, but also invites him or her to
consider the relationship between animals and humans, and how
similar we really are. Overall, this is a beautiful book, combining
natural history education with literacy support and empathy
development. Fun as well as educational, it is a good choice for
home or school." — The Children's Book Review
"A sea otter pup grows up. Jonathan London, whose Otters Love to
Play, illustrated by Meilo So (2016), introduced North American
river otters to young readers, turns his attention to sea otters of
the North Pacific Ocean. This gentle story tells how a pup born off
the California coast is nurtured by its mother for 8 months until
he is able to eat on his own and can join a raft of other young
male sea otter pups. (What happens to the females is a logical but
unanswered question.) The author describes how Mama nurses, grooms,
and feeds her baby, how she wraps him in kelp to secure him while
she's foraging, stores her food in a convenient arm pocket and uses
a stone as a tool to crack a shell, and how she teaches him to
forage. There's one encounter with a predator: a near miss with a
shark. The lyrical text is presented in short sections of three or
four lines, often followed by an onomatopoeic word or phrase set in
display type. Painted images by Sean London, the author's son,
illustrate the story realistically and faithfully, concentrating on
mother and pup, emphasizing their bond. The water, with its
changing colors, acts as a pleasing background. An author's note
supplies further information, but there is no index. Aimed at a
slightly younger audience than author London's river otter book,
this provides an agreeable introduction. (Informational picture
book. 2-6)" — Kirkus
"This delightful book, the work of a father and son team, is about
a ball of fur called Pup. Jonathan London tells the story of a
newly born sea otter, while his son Sean, a gifted illustrator,
provides color and form to the story with his tender and
eye-catching paintings. Pup grows and learns how to forage for
food, all under the watchful eye of his mom. Children will love the
dialog: slurp, slurp, slurp; munch, crunch, munch. There’s even
some danger and excitement when a shark appears, but it all turns
out fine when—you guessed it—mom comes to the rescue. For ages
4-8." — National Outdoor Book Award
"This appealing picture book follows a young sea otter growing up.
Newborn Pup rests on his mother’s belly as she floats in the sea,
nursing and grooming him until they both fall asleep. When she
needs to forage underwater, she wraps him in kelp that anchors him
bobbing on the water’s surface until her return. Little by little,
he learns to eat solid food and, later, to find it himself. When a
hungry shark approaches, his mother shows him how to escape. And
when he’s ready, Pup becomes independent at last. The writer of the
popular Froggy series as well as nature-themed picture books such
as Otters Love to Play (2016), London knows how to tell a story. In
this case, he conveys plenty of intriguing facts about sea otters,
along with a bit of drama to hold children’s attentions. Fluid,
colorful illustrations clarify points in the text while portraying
the characters with soft-edged realism. An appended author’s note
commenting on sea otters of the North Pacific coastal region rounds
out this informative picture book." — Booklist
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