Otto's Jumper

In this beautifully illustrated picture book, an unwanted gift and a risky journey teach a young boy the true meaning of love, family, and gratitude.

Otto has style. He loves great clothes and looking sharp. Unfortunately, his Grandma has no sense of fashion at all. When yet another ugly, itchy jumper arrives in the mail, Otto knows he has to do something to save his look.

Determined to put an end to the woolly gifts, Otto sets off on a long, cold walk through the woods to his Grandma’s house. Along the way, he starts to notice something surprising: the sweater he hates is actually keeping him warm. But when a single thread comes loose and the jumper begins to unravel, Otto is left freezing, frightened, and alone.

At last, Otto reaches Grandma’s house, only to find her knitting more gifts just for him. And suddenly, Otto understands. They may be itchy, unfashionable, and far from cool – but they’re made with love. Róisín Hahessy’s rich, cozy illustrations add warmth to this tender and humorous story by Sadhbh Devlin, a grandma who can’t stop knitting and her fashion-forward grandson who believes homemade jumpers don’t belong in his closet… at least, not until now.

Sadhbh Devlin is a children’s author from Co. Wicklow, Ireland and the writer of five Irish-language picture books with Futa Fata. She holds a degree in Drama and Modern Irish from Trinity College Dublin and has worked in both the Irish-language non-profit sector and television, including presenting on Cúla 4 ar Scoil for TG4 (Teilifís na Gaeilge). An active member of the Irish children’s literature community, she contributes reviews to Inis magazine and regularly leads workshops in schools, libraries, and festivals. Devlin has served as the Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown (dlr) Writer in Residence (2019–2020) and as the Irish-language Writer in Residence at Dublin City University (DCU) in 2022.

Róisín Hahessy is an award-winning illustrator of over 50 books. She uses bright and playful palettes which invite children to step inside her small colourful worlds, where she hopes they can connect with her characters and through this, help them to express empathy and kindness. Originally from Ireland, she now resides in the sometimes sunny, sometimes rainy, city of Porto in Portugal with her husband and cat in a lovely little yellow house.