I am Oliver the Otter: A Tale from our Wild and Wonderful Riverbanks

by Pam Ayres, Nicola O'Byrne (Illustrator)

Overview

A heart-warming, rhyming story about a little otter called Oliver, written by bestselling poet Pam Ayres, author of The Last Hedgehog.

Come on down to the riverbank, and discover a wild and wonderful world . . .

Oliver the otter is happy enough living alone, swimming or scampering along the twisty-rooted waterways. Until one day, among the green rushes, he meets an otter called Ottilie – and his life changes forever.

Written in rhyme and beautifully illustrated by the award-winning Nicola O'Byrne, Pam Ayres's charming tale brings the natural world to life. With nature facts interwoven throughout, and an information page at the end, including tips on how to spot and look after otters.

I am Oliver the Otter will make the perfect gift for nature lovers of all ages and is followed up by the second book in the series, I am Hattie the Hare.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781529067071
Publisher:	Pan Macmillan
Publication date:	05/13/2025
Series:	Pam Ayres Animal Stories
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 9.75(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	3 - 8 Years

About the Author

Nicola O'Byrne was born in Swaziland, grew up in Singapore and has lived in Papua New Guinea, Kenya, Edinburgh, London and Cambridge. When Nicola was five years old her parents banned Saturday morning television, and she has been drawing ever since. Nicola has a Bachelor's degree in Illustration from Edinburgh College of Art and an MA (Printmaking) from Camberwell College of Art. In 2014 her picture book Open Very Carefully won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, the Stockport Children's Book Prize and the Oldham's Brilliant Book Award, was highly commended for the UKLA Book Award and shortlisted for Oscar's First Book Prize and the Sheffield Children's Book Award. She now lives in sunny Los Angeles with her husband, Sjoerd, and their invisible dog, Chewbacca.

Pam Ayres was born in Oxfordshire, and has been a writer, broadcaster, and entertainer for over forty years. She is the author of several best-selling poetry collections, including The Works, With These Hands, Surgically Enhanced and You Made Me Late Again! Many of her poems are in school textbooks around the world including the UK, USA, China, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, South Africa, Ireland and Singapore. Pam’s autobiography, The Necessary Aptitude, was the UK’s bestselling female autobiography of 2011.

Pam performs her solo stage show throughout the UK, and has toured Australia and New Zealand regularly. She is one of a handful of comedians to have played the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. She has appeared at many Literary and Arts Festivals throughout the UK including Hay, Cheltenham, Edinburgh Fringe, and overseas in Hong Kong and Dubai.

Pam appears regularly on TV, most recently on BBC’s Springwatch, Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, Celebrity Mastermind, and a programme about her time in the WRAF in the recent BBC Women at War series. On radio Pam appears regularly on BBC Radio 4’s Just A Minute and her own series, Ayres on the Air for Radio 4.

Pam was awarded the MBE in 2004 for services to literature and entertainment, and lives in the Cotswolds.

Editorial Reviews

an adorable tale with an urgent message.” —Alex O'Connell, The Times

“An otterly beautiful new rhyming picture book which celebrates otters – one of the best-loved stars of the natural world – whilst highlighting the environmental challenges that these endearing creatures face . . . this glorious book acts as both entertainment and education.” —Pam Norfolk, Lancashire Post

“This is a beautiful rhyming picture book by the well-known British poet and broadcaster...as well as featuring stunning pictures by illustrator Nicola O'Byrne, the book issues an important plea to children to help look after waterways and free them from pollution. It is sure to delight children aged two to 10.” —Herald Magazine, The Herald

From the Publisher