When Otto the squirrel finds a strange green ball on his doorstep one day, he ignores it, only to find that when it hatches, the furry little creature inside imprints upon him. Reluctantly taking the baby in, Otto sets out to find the mother of this quickly-growing creature. But as the days pass, and Pio continues to grow, it begins to look like the mother will not reappear. Will Otto abandon Pio, when the latter gets too big for his house? Or will Pio find a way to prove that their relationship has worth...?

Originally published in French as Je ne suis pas ta maman, this latest picture-book from French-Canadian author and artist Marianne Dubuc pairs a sweet story of adoption and/or friendship with lovely illustrations. I don't think that Otto and Pio is the equal of Up the Mountain Path, which was the last Dubuc title I read, but it is still engaging, and offers a new take on the classic "reluctant cross-species adoption" tale. Recommended to fans of the artist, and to anyone looking for gentle and quirky new picture-books. ( )

This is a strange little story. Otto is a squirrel who lives alone in a pretty fancy home in a big tree. One morning, he finds a strange green pod on his doorstep. He tries to ignore it, but out of that pod hatches a furry white creature that says, "Pio!" Otto invites him in, but each day he heads off to try and find his mother. Everytime Otto returns home, Pio has grown until it seems he will either eat Otto out of house and home, or perhaps destroy the house. It turns out Pio is a pretty handy creature to have around.

The illustrations are cute and fun to look at. The characters are the main focus of the illustrations and are well drawn, showing expressions and feelings. We do not find out what kind of creature Pio is, but I am going with a yeti, when you read this book, let me know if you agree. I think part of the fun for children will be trying to figure out what he is, but it doesn't really matter. For me the idea of acceptance, sharing, helping another creature and friendship are the things that really matter in this book. Overall, I enjoyed this book, the story and illustrations are solid. The ending was not what I was expecting (I thought Squirrel would find his mother), but it was a good one that fit the story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own. ( )

A small furry creature in a green pod is left at the door of a squirrel named Otto. This creature is named Pio and every night he doubles in size. Can Otto and Pio find a happily ever after? This story isn’t bad but I really don’t like how Otto seems to be more concerned about his broken things, or the inconveniences in his life. Yes he actively looks for Pio’s parents, but he doesn’t seem to appreciate what Pio does until there is a near disaster. It may be close to life, but I think the message is too much of a downer for me to use in any activity. ( )