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Otto and the Big Yellow Seed is a children’s book inspired by the original illustrations of Elsa Behr Grether (1928–2006). Elsa earned her Master’s Degree in Art from the University of California, Berkeley in 1951 and created artwork that explored imagination, light and dark, and expressive forms.

In 1960, Elsa made drawings for a children’s book, but the story was lost and the book was never published. In 2023, her daughter Sheila Grether Marion wrote a new story to go with those illustrations.

Sheila graduated from Occidental College in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Drama. Otto and the Big Yellow Seed became her first book, bringing her mother’s drawings to life for young readers.

About The Book

BOOK OVERVIEW

Otto and the Big Yellow Seed is a charming children’s story about a boy named Otto who prefers imagination and nature over electronic devices. While playing outside with his dog Max, Otto discovers a beetle stuck on its back and rescues it.

The beetle, named Buzz, becomes Otto’s friend and rewards him with a magic yellow seed. When Otto plants the seed, it promises to grant four wishes. Soon his backyard becomes a magical place with a treehouse, a train to ride, and even the ability for Max to speak.

Through Otto’s adventure, the story encourages children to explore nature, use their imagination, and discover the joy of playing and learning outside with friends.

About The Author

sheila Grether Marion

Sheila Grether Marion is the author of Otto and the Big Yellow Seed. She graduated from Occidental College in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Drama.

Earlier in her career, she wrote grant applications, press releases, and articles for nonprofit organizations between 1976 and 1986. Her career was as a professional fundraiser for theaters, libraries, and scientific endeavors.

Sheila Grether Marion is the author of Otto and the Big Yellow Seed. She graduated from Occidental College in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Drama.

Earlier in her career, she wrote grant applications, press releases, and articles for nonprofit organizations between 1976 and 1986. Her career was as a professional fundraiser for theaters, libraries, and scientific endeavors.

From 1987 through her retirement in 2014, she worked as a Senior Vice President, Investments, for Merrill Lynch and Company, a division of Bank of America.

In 2023, Sheila wrote the story for Otto and the Big Yellow Seed to accompany the original illustrations created by her mother, Elsa Behr Grether. The illustrations had been created many years earlier for a children’s book that was never published.

Through this project, Sheila brought her mother’s artwork to life and created her first published book. 

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