What Is Your Kid's Favorite Book?

Otto Grows Down

Author: Michael Sussman
Illustrator: Scott Magoon
Children's Storybook


Imagine a little boy who is an only child for nearly 6 years. Then WHAM! His world is turned upside down by a smelly little baby. She's little. And she cries a lot. And dang it, everyone pays more attention to her than him... and to make it worse? Today's his birthday and everyone seems more interested in her!

It's time to blow out his Six birthday candles and... oh no.. she's crying again, just when he thinks it can't get any worse... they pull out his old rattle. HIS rattle, his very favorite rattle... and they give it to her! He can't help it. When he blows out those candles... he wishes she was never born...

And so starts the Picture Book by Michael Sussman.

Otto Grows Down

OhMyGoshWeLoveItSoMuchWeReadItEveryNight!
Little Otto not only finds out what life is like without his little sister... he finds out what it's like to live life in reverse!

From bringing the trash back IN the house, to having the barber grow his hair back ON! Plus Sliding UP the slide and other crazy stuff... {oh boy, the bathroom pages make my kids especially laugh}. TK rips the book out of my hands at that point so he can 'read' those pages 'allbymyselfmommy'!

I hope I can say this clear enough. My little boy LOVES this book.
No. That was pathetic. Let me try again.

• He sprinkles this book on his cereal for breakfast.
• He sleeps with it.
• His older sister likes it just as much and often BEGS to read it to him!
• I'm not exaggerating.
  He would forgo a trip to the park, for an extra reading of Otto Grows Down.
• It travels on vacation with us.
• he plans to name his firstborn child otto, regardless of gender.
  

It's not an option. We READ this book EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.
Period.
The end. Don't even suggest Cat In The Hat, or you'll end up... Mom in the Can.

So.
If you're thinking about scoping out Amazon for this book, please understand the commitment you'll be getting into. If you think little league is relentless? Cub Scouts? A Puppy! Oh no. If you let Otto into your home... you too will find out what it's like to grow down. (Night after Night after Night after...)

Otto found out: "Without words ... [I can't] make a wish?"

And now my little boy kind of gives this little boy sigh as he contemplates what Otto means when he says: "I'd rather grow up with Anna... than grow down without her."

Really a totally sweet book. And funny. And creative. And addictive... And don't say I didn't warn you!

Ages? All ages of course. Honestly I maybe sorta kinda enjoy this book a teensy weensy bit more than the kids! (But don't tell them.)

PS. My 8yrold thinks that Mr. Sussman should write a second book. (Oh please, Oh please write another one!) She asks that it be about a girl wishing she didn't have a brother... hmmm.. where do we think THAT comes from!?