Otis Spofford Paperback – August 12, 2008

Always a great read for my young students! They love it as much as I do!

Re-reading this book as an adult, I think this may be Beverly Cleary's most interesting piece of fiction. Most of Cleary's characters are ordinary kids (Henry, Beezus, Ellen) or unusually spunky but otherwise still ordinary kids (Ramona) who live in two-parent homes with yards. Otis, on the other hand, has a single mom, lives in an apartment, and has behavior issues. He's not a bad kid by any means, but he's impulsive, easily bored, and has a very hard time thinking through the long-term consequences of his actions. He's like a jack-in-the-box where all of Cleary's other protagonists are regular dolls. And yet, Cleary writes his character as masterfully as she does the "ordinary" children she usually writes about. She gets inside Otis's head to make the reader understand exactly why he behaves the way he does, to make it make sense, but you can also see, outside his head, why he irritates everyone all the time. I find myself feeling sorry for Otis because he would be happier if he did make progress in learning to think before he acts, which he never seems to do, not even when he finally gets his come-uppance.Reading this book right after Mitch and Amy sparked a GREAT discussion with my child about the difference between a kid who's just being annoying (Otis Spofford) and a kid who's actually being a bully (Alan Hibbler).

The first Beverly Cleary book I ever read, at age 10. Otis was just like some of the boys in my class who loved to tease girls and "stir up some excitement." The book is hilarious. Beverly Cleary is 100 years old. I started re-reading her books, as I enjoyed them so much as a child. I was amazed at how wonderful they still are after so many years.

We liked the story very much. Good old fashioned humour. Perfect for my boys Glad we read it. Will continue our quest to read all cleary's works!

I hadn't read it since I was a kid. I loved it again, although not as much as I did as a child. I strongly recommend this and any other books by Beverly Cleary!

A classic children's book that is both smart and entertaining. I read it as a child, I bought it for my goddaughter and cannot wait for my own children to read it one day.

Beverly Cleary is one of my favorite children's authors. Her books really strike a chord with her audience and they still remind me of fond memories and not so fond today. Otis Spofford is a unique and very funny character that will win fans every time they read this book.

Beverly Clearly is a wonderful author of children's books. I loved them so much as a child, I ordered them for my grandchildren to have. I know they will love them too!