Name of Book: Otis and the Scarecrow
Author and Illustrator: Loren Long
Publisher: Philomel Books; First edition (August 28, 2014)
Audience: Kindergarten – 3rd grade (5-8 years)
Summary: On the farm where Otis and the farm animals live, a scarecrow comes to live. The scarecrow is new and is brought in to keep the crows out of the field. Otis and all the animals greet the scarecrow but a smile never comes to his face. The fall dreary rain comes and all the animals and Otis gather closely play the quiet game together. The game usually brings laughter and fun but on this day Otis was captured by the scarecrow’s sadness. Otis heads across the farm and sits with the scarecrow and the other animals join him. Gathered with the scarecrow, Otis begins another round of the quiet game but this time including the newest friend on the farm.
Literary elements at work in the story: Loren Long’s story is full of painterly illustrations that beautifully compliment the expressive writing style. While the point of view places the reader as a narrator, one is drawn into the story as a character on the farm.
(How) does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story? There were all different kinds of animals, a tractor, and a scarecrow all attempting to live in community together. This diverse community encourages us to claim our differences while uniting our commonalities. These commonalities transcend all of the differences if we are open to exploring them.
Theological conversation partners: As children of God, we are called to like our life in response to God’s amazing grace for each of us. One way that we can respond to that grace is by exhibiting Christ-like qualities. We can be hospitable, aware of other’s feelings, and respond with compassion. Otis shared a lot of Christ-like qualities. He was entranced by the sadness and lonely of the scarecrow. Otis recognized the limitations of the scarecrow as a fixed member of the community and brought the game to him. Otis was a humble servant leader that found a way to share the love of Christ with the whole community.
Faith Talk Questions:
- Name a time when you were new to a place. What did it feel like to be new?
- Sometimes when we are new, we are scared and alone. What are ways that you can help someone be more included?
- Read Colossians 3:12-17. Scripture tells us to be compassionate and loving towards others. What does that mean?
This review is written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Jen Evans
Otis and the Scarecrow by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.