A New Kind of Children's Book

Sea otters are just the kind of playful furry creatures that kids enjoy reading about. They effortlessly glide through the sea on their backs and seem to gaze lovingly toward all. But in Archer Otters, author Michael Girgenti and illustrator Laura Santana depict these adorable mammals as a species under siege. An evil fisherman attempts to capture and kill them, aided by a mercenary flock of eagles. The odds against them are steep, but with the help of a warrior band of their own, armed with bows and arrows, the feisty otters fight off their attackers and preserve their way of life.

This is a short sweet tale of collective species solidarity, and it might not seem the most appropriate topic for young children. But Strawberry Pencils Magic, the book's publisher, aims to break the mold of typical kid stories that tend to downplay the darker side of Nature, both human and animal. Conflicts loom, and bloodshed may be inevitable. But there is another lesson, too. Vulnerable creatures need to protect themselves. by arms, if necessary. The Archer Otters, much like Japanese samurai, are specially trained for warfare. Ever watchful and protective of their unarmed brethren, they respond in an instant when called upon.

None of the attackers is actually killed, it seems. The evil fisherman, whose boat capsizes, manages to escape on a helicopter that seems to appear out of nowhere, and the dive bombing eagles beat a hasty retreat under a hail of Archer arrows.

The text of Archer Otters is spare, just 30 pages, with barely a paragraph on each. But Santana's evocative drawings depict each scene compellingly, allowing eager kids to point to heroes and villains alike. The evil fisherman, in close up, looks like a kindly old man, pleasantly smoking a pipe, oblivious to the carnage he's threatened to unleash. In the end, for all the looming menace, the otters manage to rediscover the peace of their native habitat with their innocence unperturbed.

This is not so much a morality tale as it is a fanciful depiction of the timeless cycle of struggle between humans and animals. Parents be warned: Children may be left with anxious questions about why these peaceful otters came under attack, and why eagles, especially, would agree to become such willing birds of prey. But when their cuddly little friends escape death and destruction, they'll likely stand up and cheer.