Review - Big Sky Mountain: The Beach Otters by Alex Milway

 Review - Big Sky Mountain: The Beach Otters by Alex Milway

Welcome to Big Sky Mountain: a home for everyone! Life never stays still for long on Big Sky Mountain. Rosa and Grandma Nan are off on an adventure to Toe-Dipper Bay, to see who's in trouble - a distress flare has gone up! When they arrive they find the beach covered in plastic rubbish, and a family of beach otters farming seaweed, while doing their best to tidy up. Rosa and Grandma Nan join in, but they have to find out who sent the distress flare - because who is that wrecked out at sea? Rosa and Grandma Nan will need the otters' help to build a raft to get to them . . .

An action-packed story featuring curious otters, wise hermit crabs and peckish puffins ,which addresses pollution and recycling in a gentle and friendly way for young children.

The Big Sky Mountain books are always so cute and sweet, and The Beach Otters was no exception.
In this story, Rosa is trying to fix Grandma Nan's old radio when she sees a distant flare, and sets off on an expedition with Grandma Nan to Toe-Dipper Bay to investigate. We get to see a new part of Big Sky Mountain this time, with this trip to the coast, the beautiful bay, the old lighthouse and a collection of islands. All of it is beautifully described, and cleverly named, and I love seeing this whole area being sketched out book by book. 

We meet a team of very cute otters, seaweed farmers happy to help Rosa and Nan with their rescue mission, and a whale who does an enormous poo! Always humorous, obviously, but Alex Milway gives it more importance by emphasising its significance in the ecosystem. This isn't just toilet humour, this is toilet humour with an environmental message!

We meet an old friend, in need of rescue, some wonderful crabs, some very greedy puffins and despite some mild peril, everyone is saved. It's also great to see the characters of Albert the Moose, Little Pig the Owl and Stick the Wolf pup getting some more time in the spotlight.

As well as the adventure, there's also an important environmental message, as with all of the Big Sky Mountain books. This one is focused on the impact of littering, and really shows how devastating plastic pollution can be.

It's incredibly readable, packed full of beautiful illustrations, some forming part of a scavenger hunt.
With adorable art, wonderful characters and an environmental message, The Beach Otters is another impressive Big Sky Mountain book for young readers.

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Big Sky Mountain: The Beach Otters by Alex Milway is published on 13th October 2022 by Bonnier Books Uk.

I was given a review copy via Netgalley in return for an honest review.