Otis & Peanut Forever and Ever is a cute graphic novel for children focused on the friendship between a guinea pig and a naked mole rat. The illustrations were very fun and had a light-hearted vibe. The book was divided into 3 stories. For me, it was an odd shift that the second story did not have words, but I enjoyed the other 2.

This book also touches lightly on grief and memory-making. It would be a good book to open a discussion on grief for kiddos. Thanks to NetGalley, Naseem Hrab, and OwlKids books for the chance to read and review!

Otis & Peanut Forever and Ever is a beginning graphic novel that contains three short stories involving the two main characters. My favorite is the first one: "Cake". The stories are cute and short. I'm not a huge fan of the illustrations... I just prefer a different style.

I grabbed this book from Net Galley because it looked cute and like my daughter would enjoy it. I didn’t realize it was book 2 which normally isn’t an issue but we didn’t know Peanuts sisters had passed away or how and they didn’t really come out and say it. Initially I thought she was just living somewhere else because she was older. We also were lucky enough to win a giveaway for both books so we will be reading book one s soon as we receive it. We did enjoy reading this book. It had 3 different sections. The middle “book” had no words. At first I thought it was a long kids book but then with the one section it having words it read quickly. My favourite part was the illustration of Peanut brushing his teeth, I laughed out loud haha.
We would recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Owlkids Books for the chance to read it.

'Otis & Peanut Forever and Ever' by Naseem Hrab is perfect for a range of kids and there are three stories in one book. The illustrations are lively and engaging propelling the stories forward. The second story doesn't even have words and is still perfectly enjoyable. A really nice book that kids will want to read over and over.

Otis & Peanut Forever and Ever is the second outing for the best friends (a guinea pig and a naked mole rat) by Naseem Hrab. Due out 16th April 2024 from Owlkids Books, it's 80 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a sweetly appealing, poignant, and sensitively written early chapter book (three stories) about friendship with themes of loss, remembering, holding on to memories, and making new ones. The stories are gentle and can be read without particular emphasis on the loss of Peanut's sister Pearl (it's never explicitly stated in this book). The friends remember Pearl by making (and eventually eating) Pearl's favorite cake recipe, learning to make the jam she always made, and when Peanut plants a garden with seeds she left for him.

They also go on some adventures and make new memories together. The art by Kelly Collier is simple and fun with lots of small details which invite readers to take a closer look. The illustrations are in color throughout the book.

Four and a half stars. Surprisingly deep, but never maudlin. Although one of the themes is the loss of Peanut's sibling, it's never directly stated in this book and could be glossed over if reading in a group. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, for home library, or gift purposes.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

A buddy book for the elementary set (in the vein of Piggie & Elephant), but also tying in dealing with loss in the long term. There are subtle references to Peanut's sister Pearl in each story, and adults will infer that Pearl has passed away, but it's more bittersweet than sad. In between entertaining friend interactions there are moments when Peanut is struck by memories of Pearl, a feeling with which those of us who have experience loss are familiar.

I received an electronic ARC from Owlkids Books through NetGalley.
Otis and Peanut are back and a more serious undertone comes through these three stories. Readers see Peanut grieving for his sister and Otis being with him in support. They have fun and enjoy life but each story includes a tangible reminder of Pearl and all she meant to Peanut. The illustrations capture the love between these friends and the love between the siblings.

Otis & Peanut Forever and Ever is an upcoming release kids are sure to love! The characters are quirky and loveable. I love how the book is set up as an easier transitional read for younger children. Kids will love the humor the characters bring and there are lots of opportunities for kids to make inferences throughout the book.

Highly recommend you add this one to your child's home library shelf or your classroom library if you are a teacher.

Thank you to Owlkids books for the ARC.

A series of three stories about friends Otis and Peanut. It is implied early in the stories that Peanut's sister, Pearl, has died and the two friends go through several events remembering her. They eat cake made from Pearl's favorite recipe. Peanut remembers fun times with Pearl. Otis and Peanut look through memory boxes and scrapbooks. This is a wonderfully sweet and gentle look at grief and would be a good book to discuss with a child who's faced a loss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Owlkids Books for the eGalley to review!

This was a (sometimes literal) sweet set of stories about dealing with grief in a positive and constructive way. It focuses on Peanut's grieving process over the loss of his sister as he bakes his sister's favorite cake for him and Otis, plants the strawberry seeds she gifted him to make more of her jam that he's running out of, and to collect new, happy memories to keep in a safe place for remembering.

It also just shows how doing little things to make yourself happy don't need a reason or special occasion to do. For instance, Otis doesn't want to eat the very special cake until there's a special occasion for it, but Peanut convinces him that there doesn't need to be one to enjoy a good cake. Peanut sees a couple of kids playing in a sprinkler and reminds him of his time playing in the sprinkler with his sister, so even though it's embarrassing at first, he ends up playing in it to remember that fun. I appreciate any book telling children that they never need to give up the things that make them happy when they grow up or reserve happiness for only special occasions.

There's also tips from Otis in the back of the book for remembering your favorite memories and that's just so important in my opinion.

So kudos to Naseem Hrab for making me tear up with appreciation and understanding. I think both kids and adults will get something out of this one.

Otis and Peanut are friends. In this collection of three short stories they explore the reasons for eating cake, memories, and making and saving memories. The hint of wistfulness calls to mind friends absent yet still treasured.

This picture book is beautiful, wise, and gorgeous. I've heard it said that your life starts over when you realize you can have cake any time you want. In the first of 3 stories, Otis and Peanut are putting off on eating a cake until they have an occasion special enough. Then they have a second cake so they can hold off on the main one, and they eat that second cake everywhere for any reason.
This book is pretty much about learning to live in the moment and still honor important memories. In the end, they learn to collect memories that matter and then to deliberately make more important memories.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this sweet little book

I liked that this book is written in graphic novel format. It does not have too many words on the page, so struggling readers can enjoy it.