Polly Crawford

Sissie Sea Otter Polly Crawford

Sissie Sea Otter is a life history of a sea otter who struggles with fears and problems similar to children, like loss of a best friend, fear of storms, and separation anxiety. However, it is also unique to sea otters, in that she faces oil spills, pollution, and fur harvesting. By the end of the book, the child knows how a sea otter lives, but can relate to it to his/her own feelings and problems. It was inspired by my own reading, as a child, of Chip the Dam Builder by Jim Kjelgaard. Since I live in Alaska, it is about a sea otter in Prince William Sound, where I did my research.