I give the boys at least one special book each birthday, and Otto’s book this year was irresistibly called Otto: The Autobiography of a Bear by Tomi Ungerer.

This is a book to keep for when our Otto is older, as often these special birthday books are… Otto is a bear made in Germany, given to David. Lovingly played with by David and his neighbour Oskar, Otto acquires an indelible stain of purple ink. We learn that David is Jewish, made to wear a yellow star, and driven away. Soon after, the city is bombed, and Otto becomes lost, to be found by an American solidier. Many years later, there is an incredible reunion and both David and Oskar recognise their childhood toy.

Tomi Ungerer is a very talented French storyteller and illustrator. From the image on the cover of Otto, with the stark black shadow behind him, a mood is set. The contrast of the innocent play of David and blond Oskar, and later scenes of wartime destruction are stark and chilling. While this is not a picture book for young readers, the use of Otto the bear as a protagonist is very clever, and allows children to access the story at their level. When I read this book to four-year-old Rowan, the details of the holocaust were not necessary for him to understand – he was able to focus on the lost bear and his adventures and ultimate reunification with David. Later I’m sure he will ask more questions, but for now he was content with the perspective of the teddy.

The book has the quality of a true story, but I haven’t found anything to say that there really was a bear like Otto. Nevertheless, Tomi Ungerer lived through the Nazi occupation of Alsace and needless to say was strongly influenced by it.

Newly released for the first time in English (following initial publication in 1999) by legendary art publisher, Phaidon, this is also a lovely production: beautiful matt pages and endpapers in the perfect shade of inky purple.