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

Pam Ayres has been a writer, broadcaster, and entertainer for over forty years. She is the author of several bestselling poetry books, including The Works, Surgically Enhanced, You Made Me Late Again!, and The Last Hedgehog. Pam’s autobiography, The Necessary Aptitude, was a bestseller. Her book Pam Ayres on Animals, published last year, was the UK's Best Selling Poetry book of 2021. On radio she is a regular on Just A Minute, has made six series of her own Ayres On The Air, and has appeared twice on the legendary Desert Island Discs. Pam performs her solo stage show throughout the UK, and lives in the Cotswolds, where she is an enthusiastic gardener for wildlife.

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.

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