In this colourful encyclopaedia, children discover the world and learn new words in a playful way. Full of dynamic characters and objects, this books offers a generous sampling of Tom Schamp’s craftsmanship. Schamp takes his readers to a city, a garden, a shop, a construction site, a concert, a classroom, an airport and many other places. His best-known character, the disarming Otto, is of course assigned the star role in this 'Encyclopedia Otto-biografica’, in which we follow his adventures for a year.

Along with Otto and characters like Uncle Tom Tom (the Sunday painter), Dr Mole (who digs deeper and deeper) and Professor Fox (who knows lots and lots), children discover strange characters, heavenly desserts, the colourful seasons and so much more. Thanks to different languages and nationalities, a brightly coloured, multicultural universe rises up before your eyes, a world that also subtly criticises environmental pollution and the threat to endangered species. Schamp’s work emerges as a colourful expanse dotted with puns, parodies and allusions. His illustrations represent a blend of Richard Scarry’s ‘Busy, Busy Town’ and Martin Handford’s ‘Where’s Waldo’.

For ages 5 and up.