Gideon & Otto

Gossie and Friends

by Olivier Dunrea

Otto is an octopus, and he’s Gideon’s favorite friend! Gideon has a favorite friend, his toy octopus. He brings Otto with him everywhere. But one day Otto doesn’t stay right where Gideon put him . . . In this second book about Gideon, we learn more about his sidekick, Otto, and their important bond. Another charming romp with the latest irrepressible, adorable gosling in the bunch!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Kids, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Since his debut in 1983, author and illustrator Olivier Dunrea has created a steady stream of picture books, including concept books, stories of family life—modern and ancient—and stories about artists. Many of Dunrea's picture books testify to his love of animals and his interest in archaeology and folklore of the British Isles, and several—including Ravena, The Trow-Wife's Treasure, and Bear Noel—take place in a similar land of Dunrea's own creation: the mythic island of Moel Eyris. "I don't write books or make pictures for children," Dunrea once told Something About the Author (SATA). "I make them for myself. It just so happens that children like what I do as much as I do!"

Olivier (Jean-Paul Dominique) Dunrea (1953-) Biography - Personal, Career, Member, Writings, Sidelights

Reviews

[Shiloah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read aloud by my Lamby (6)!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much to say. Nothing magical, imo, but nothing wrong. Certain folks will love it, and more power to them.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My word--I adore these illustrations! Cute toy octopus, turtle (of course), bunnies. Makes me smile every time I read these books. I was looking for "bunny books" for an Easter-y theme, so this doesn't quite work. And overall it might not work for preschool. If the books were bigger, I think this could work in a toddler storytime. Really good for a lap-read.

12/2/15 Opener for Things We Love at the Holidays: Friends theme. Simple. But a good one to read as families come in late. The kids all smiled at Otto riding a turtle. Not quite sure if they fully picked up on Otto being a toy. But it was still good.

[معصومه توکلی · Rating 5 out of 5]

عنوان ترجمه فارسی: گی گی و اوتو

[Andrea Bragdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use this book as a reminder for my son to take care of his belongings (clean up after himself) so he doesn't lose anything. I have read this book to my third graders for the same reminder. I don't really allow toys in my classroom, but if a student brings in a toy and it gets lost or it breaks, that's a natural consequence.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gideon, a small ruddy gosling has a favorite toy, that is also his best friend. This favorite toy and best friend of Gideon's is an octopus named Otto. Otto goes everywhere with Gideon. While playing with two bunnies one day, Gideon sits Otto on a rock, but when Gideon returns from playing with the bunnies, Otto is no where to be found.

[Eva_Amaré · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gideon is a baby goose, which is a duck of sorts right? Well, we're very partial to ducks. Especially Ava. The pictures are simple, but cute and the special friendship between Gideon and Otto reminds us of ourselves. Well, maybe not all the time. Sometimes someone bites.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gideon and Otto, his octopus, are best buddies who do almost everything together. When Otto goes missing, Gideon searches all over the farm to find him. I wish you could hear my almost two year old granddaughter exclaim, "Oh No! Where Otto?"

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gideon the gosling and his lovey Otto go out to play. Until Otto gets lost. Luckily there is a happy ending as Gideon and Otto are reunited. A cute little board book, but not one of my favorites.

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gideon and his stuffed octopus Otto adventure together. When Gideon meets two playful bunnies, he leaves Otto on a wall to join in on their fun...but when he returns, Otto is nowhere to be found! Finally, Gideon finds Otto on the back of a turtle, and is reunited with his favorite toy.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

ATOS 1.2

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so funny! I also like the pictures.

[Dan Hyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 4 year old daughters enjoy this series.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about Gideon and his best friend, Otto.

[Parisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

تصویر سازیهاش بامزه بود و متنش هم فوق العاده راحت برای نی نی کوچولوها😍

[Jvermeersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schattig en heel herkenbaar: over het belang van een knuffelbeertje voor een kind.

[Elliot's Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elliot loves the Gossie & Friends series. In this one, a ruddy gosling named Gideon Lowe’s his favorite toy, an octopus named Otto.

* library book. Read at 22 months

[Ashley Ingram · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite one to the Gossie series books. It’s the cutest in my opinion.

[Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Library book preschool

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤ Gideon and his bestie! Dunrea is the master of board books, babies & adults dig his style.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the further adventures of Gideon the ruddy gosling, the storyline will be quite familiar to parents and young ones alike. Gideon loves his toy octopus, Otto, and he carries him everywhere he goes. While out having fun one day, Gideon leaves Otto on a rock, and he somehow is lost. Gideon searches desperately, but he can't find Otto--until he happens to turn up in an unexpected way. The pen-and-ink and gouache illustrations are appealing and have a sentimental quality to them, making them not so tedious for readalouds.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gideon is a small red-orange gosling whose favorite toy is stuffed octopus named Otto.

Gideon takes Otto, his stuffed octopus, with him everywhere. One afternoon he sets Otto down to play, but when Gideon returns, Otto is gone. Gideon frantically searches for him, and eventually they are reunited.

Having a favorite toy and the distress of losing that toy are things to which all children can relate. This is a sweet gentle story that allows young readers to reflect on their own everyday experience.

[Danica Midlil · Rating 3 out of 5]

The small size of this book and others by this author makes them hard to share in a toddler story time despite the perfect fit of the story. Potential contender for a big book perhaps?
I like that Gideon doesn't immediately burst into tears upon discovering that Otto has mysteriously wandered off. That storyline has been done to Death! Instead, the smart little gosling goes looking for him and in logical places too!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable story about a russet colored goose named Gideon and his stuffed octopus, Otto. One day Gideon goes off to play with some bunnies and leaves Otto on a stump. When Mama Goose calls for Gideon to come home, he goes to find Otto, but he is not there. He looks everywhere for him and eventually find him on the back of a turtle. Gideon and Otto are together again. I picked this one up for my son's summer reading and he loved it. Recommended for ages 1-4, 3 stars.

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivier Dunrea creates some of the sweetest stories (in perfect child sized books) about little ducks and goslings who have similar lives to the little kids that read about them. In this book, Gideon and his little stuffed octopus Otto do everything together until one day Otto doesn't stay where Gideon leaves him. In the end everything works out but the beautiful little illustrations and style that appeals to children and adults alike always makes me marvel at these sweet little gems of books.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another big hit from Olivier Dunrea. I like this one best of all the Gossie & friends books. It is quietly funny where the others are cute. The juxtaposition of the animated Gideon with his still, stuffed "favorite friend" Otto makes me smile even when we read it over and over.

There's probably a subtle point to the story about not neglecting your friends but the story is adorable even if that wasn't intended. A great choice for toddler reading times.

[K Morlando · Rating 4 out of 5]

We love Gossie and friends books.

[Alicia Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gideon and his stuffed toy Otto are the best of friends. Gideon takes Otto everywhere and Otto loves their relationship. This book tells the story of how the two of them have one of the best relationships a young person and his stuffed animal can have. This book would be very cute for any young child who has an intense relationship with their comfort object.

[Asho · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet little book that my 3-year-old picked out for himself at the library. I like the simple but charming illustrations of Gideon, his stuffed octopus friend, the bunnies, and the turtle. The text is very simple, but rather soothing, in a way, and I think this would make a good early reader book in the future because all of the sentences are short and simple.

[Donalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gideon loves Otto, his stuffed octopus companion and Otto loves Gideon. They are inseparable. When Otto disappears, Gideon searches frantically for his beloved friend.

Gideon and Otto are darling and the story packs a lot of emotional impact into the spare text and illustrations.