Otter

An origami sea otter floats on its back wrapped in giant paper kelp.

Fold 3, ages 8 to 10FOLD3AGES 8–10Fold 3 · Early Reader
Ages 8–10

OtterLife in the Water

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Words to know

otter
a furry animal that swims
river
fresh water that runs across land
sea
the big, salty water
An origami river otter pokes its head out of clear paper water beside green reeds.An origami river otter pokes its head out of clear paper water beside green reeds.An origami river otter pokes its head out of clear paper water beside green reeds.

Splash! An otter pops up in a river.

Nina Can you swim like an otter?
A wide origami river valley with clear running water and forested paper riverbanks.A wide origami river valley with clear running water and forested paper riverbanks.A wide origami river valley with clear running water and forested paper riverbanks.

River otters live by rivers, lakes and ponds. They swim and hunt in fresh water.

Side view of an origami river otter undulating gracefully through river currents.Side view of an origami river otter undulating gracefully through river currents.Side view of an origami river otter undulating gracefully through river currents.

An otter has a long spine that bends. It flexes up and down to swim fast.

An origami river otter paddles through water using webbed feet and a muscular tail.An origami river otter paddles through water using webbed feet and a muscular tail.An origami river otter paddles through water using webbed feet and a muscular tail.

River otters swim with webbed feet. A thick tail helps them go fast and steer.

Close-up of webbed origami otter paws with claws on wet paper stone.Close-up of webbed origami otter paws with claws on wet paper stone.Close-up of webbed origami otter paws with claws on wet paper stone.

A river otter has four webbed feet. Its strong claws grip slick, wet rocks.

Nina Can you spot the webs?
An origami river otter slides down a slick muddy paper bank into the water.An origami river otter slides down a slick muddy paper bank into the water.An origami river otter slides down a slick muddy paper bank into the water.

River otters slide down slick mud banks. Zip! Splash!

An origami river otter bounds and slides across snow and ice beside a winter stream.An origami river otter bounds and slides across snow and ice beside a winter stream.An origami river otter bounds and slides across snow and ice beside a winter stream.

Ice can cap a river. River otters still dive in to hunt. On land, they dash and slide on the ice.

Cross-section of an origami river otter den sheltered under paper tree roots.Cross-section of an origami river otter den sheltered under paper tree roots.Cross-section of an origami river otter den sheltered under paper tree roots.

River otter pups live in a den by the water. A den can have a hole in the water.

Close-up portrait of an origami otter face with prominent sensitive white whiskers.Close-up portrait of an origami otter face with prominent sensitive white whiskers.Close-up portrait of an origami otter face with prominent sensitive white whiskers.

An otter has stiff whiskers on its face. They sense fish that swim in dim water.

An origami otter dives underwater with sealed nostrils chasing paper fish.An origami otter dives underwater with sealed nostrils chasing paper fish.An origami otter dives underwater with sealed nostrils chasing paper fish.

An otter shuts its ears and nose when it dives. Then it hunts in the water.

Side view of an origami river otter undulating gracefully through river currents.Side view of an origami river otter undulating gracefully through river currents.Side view of an origami river otter undulating gracefully through river currents.

River otters hunt fish, crabs and frogs in the water. Snap! Got one!

Close-up of origami otter fur trapping tiny silver paper air bubbles.Close-up of origami otter fur trapping tiny silver paper air bubbles.Close-up of origami otter fur trapping tiny silver paper air bubbles.

No mammal has fur as thick as a sea otter's. Otters have no thick fat to fend off the chill.

Theo Let's go and see sea otters!
An origami sea otter grooms its coat in the water, rubbing fur and blowing air bubbles.An origami sea otter grooms its coat in the water, rubbing fur and blowing air bubbles.An origami sea otter grooms its coat in the water, rubbing fur and blowing air bubbles.

A sea otter rubs and rubs its fur. Puff, puff! It puffs air into it.

An origami sea otter floats on its back wrapped in ribbons of giant paper kelp.An origami sea otter floats on its back wrapped in ribbons of giant paper kelp.An origami sea otter floats on its back wrapped in ribbons of giant paper kelp.

Sea otters live in the sea, close to land. They hunt and rest in big beds of kelp.

An origami sea otter floats on its back wrapped in ribbons of giant paper kelp.An origami sea otter floats on its back wrapped in ribbons of giant paper kelp.An origami sea otter floats on its back wrapped in ribbons of giant paper kelp.

Sea otters rest side by side in a raft. An otter drapes kelp across its chest. Then it will not drift off as it naps.

A raft of origami sea otters resting together wrapped in kelp ribbons.A raft of origami sea otters resting together wrapped in kelp ribbons.A raft of origami sea otters resting together wrapped in kelp ribbons.

A raft can be just two sea otters. A big raft can have dozens and dozens!

Theo How many otters can you spot?
A raft of origami sea otters resting together wrapped in kelp ribbons.A raft of origami sea otters resting together wrapped in kelp ribbons.A raft of origami sea otters resting together wrapped in kelp ribbons.

Sometimes sea otters link up as they rest. Then they do not drift off.

An origami sea otter mother floating on her back cradles her fluffy pup on her chest.An origami sea otter mother floating on her back cradles her fluffy pup on her chest.An origami sea otter mother floating on her back cradles her fluffy pup on her chest.

A sea otter pup naps on its mother's chest. The pup has thick fur, so it can not sink!

Theo Can you spot the pup?
An origami sea otter gathers a purple sea urchin from a paper kelp forest floor.An origami sea otter gathers a purple sea urchin from a paper kelp forest floor.An origami sea otter gathers a purple sea urchin from a paper kelp forest floor.

A sea otter dives to the sea bed. It grabs crabs, clams and sea urchins.

Close-up of an origami sea otter reaching into its armpit skin pouch to retrieve a stone tool.Close-up of an origami sea otter reaching into its armpit skin pouch to retrieve a stone tool.Close-up of an origami sea otter reaching into its armpit skin pouch to retrieve a stone tool.

A sea otter has two skin pockets. It stuffs clams and a rock in them.

An origami sea otter cracks a clam shell against a flat rock balanced on its chest.An origami sea otter cracks a clam shell against a flat rock balanced on its chest.An origami sea otter cracks a clam shell against a flat rock balanced on its chest.

A sea otter sets a flat rock on its chest. It bangs shells on the rock to crack them. It tucks the rock in its skin pocket.

An origami sea otter gathers a purple sea urchin from a paper kelp forest floor.An origami sea otter gathers a purple sea urchin from a paper kelp forest floor.An origami sea otter gathers a purple sea urchin from a paper kelp forest floor.

Sea urchins munch on kelp. Sea otters snack on them, and that helps the kelp.

Theo Should the kelp thank the sea otters?
A pristine origami estuary where clean river waters meet a healthy coastal kelp forest.A pristine origami estuary where clean river waters meet a healthy coastal kelp forest.A pristine origami estuary where clean river waters meet a healthy coastal kelp forest.

River otters must have clean water with lots of fish. Sea otters do well where the sea is kept safe.

A wide origami river valley with clear running water and forested paper riverbanks.A wide origami river valley with clear running water and forested paper riverbanks.A wide origami river valley with clear running water and forested paper riverbanks.

River otters live in rivers. Sea otters live in the sea.

Nina Which otter would you like to be?
Close-up portrait of an origami otter face with prominent sensitive white whiskers.Close-up portrait of an origami otter face with prominent sensitive white whiskers.Close-up portrait of an origami otter face with prominent sensitive white whiskers.

Which otter has a skin pocket? Which otter slides down mud banks?

Theo Look back if you get stuck!
An origami otter looks back cheerfully as it swims down a calm river at sunset.An origami otter looks back cheerfully as it swims down a calm river at sunset.An origami otter looks back cheerfully as it swims down a calm river at sunset.

You can help otters. Do not drop trash in a river or the sea!

Nina Will you help the otters?

Test yourself

  1. What does a sea otter use to crack shells?

    Show the answer

    A flat rock on its chest.

  2. What do river otters slide down?

    Show the answer

    Slick mud banks.

An origami otter looks back cheerfully as it swims down a calm river at sunset.An origami otter looks back cheerfully as it swims down a calm river at sunset.An origami otter looks back cheerfully as it swims down a calm river at sunset.

Pick a page you like. Tell someone what the otter did!

Theo See you in the water!

The end

Otter: Life in the Water

See the printed pages
Front cover of Otter: A Life in River and Sea, Fold 4The next fold upOtter: A Life in River and SeaFold 4 · Explorer · Ages 10–12 All six books

For grown-ups

Read the three pictured words on page 3 together first: otter, river and sea. Then let your child read the book to you. Almost every other word can be sounded out with short vowels, blends, digraphs and silent e. When a word stops them, sound it out together; only for otter, river or sea, turn back to page 3 and its picture. Nina and Theo ask questions along the way. The book keeps river otters and sea otters apart and says which kind each fact is about. Turn the book to read the quiz answers on page 30. Children needing shorter text can start with Fold 1, Swim, Otter, Swim! Fold 4, Otter: A Life in River and Sea, tells the same facts in chapters.

Short sentences for children starting to read on their own, with a picture on every reading page and useful new words taught first.

Ages
8–10
Trim
6 × 9 in
Pages
32
Words
534
Reading grade
0.8
See the printed pages

From the otter facts episode of our video series. All six books tell this fact too.