Book Review: The Otter, the Spotted Frog and The Great Flood; A Creek Indian Tale by Gerald Hausman

The Otter, the Spotted Frog and The Great Flood written by Gerald Hausman and illustrated by Ramon Shiloh is a story based a traditional story from the Creek Indians from norther Florida and Georgia. When Spotted Frog tells everyone about a great flood that is about to destroy their homes,the animals ignore his warnings, except Listener the Otter. The Listener is laughed at for heeding Spotted Frog’s predictions but begins to build a raft to try and survive the impending disaster. But will his efforts be enough?

The Otter, the Spotted Frog and The Great Flood is a book that speaks to the importance of nature and the environment. It also supports the idea of believing in yourself and doing what you think is right rather than what the crowd thinks you should do. Spotted Frog knows that the great flood is coming, and Otter is a listener, and fully believes that he is right. He sees the signs in the world around him and does what he can to survive despite the mocking he faces. I liked that in the end the Otter really does get a happy ever after rather than losing what is precious to him. This tale echos other stories from around the world, and gives readers of all ages that might see similarities from their own flood stories the realization that we are all much more alike than different.

I would recommend The Otter, the Spotted Frog and The Great Flood for classroom and public library collections. The story could be used in lessons about nature, the environment, Native American legends, and the universal nature of some aspects of mythology. It will also be a great read for animal lovers and those that enjoy splendid illustrations.