I Am Not An Octopus: A funny tale about facing fears and learning to swim

by Eoin McLaughlin

Can a scaredy octopus in denial embrace his true identity? A goofy octopod finally dares to take the plunge—and dip his tentacles into the water he fears.

Terry is definitely not an octopus. He’s just a regular guy who happens to have a few extra limbs and a love of canned tuna. But again, he is NOT an octopus. If he were an octopus, he’d be living in the ocean, right? Not to mention going to Super Octopus Fantasea Adventure World. He definitely wouldn't be on land, unless he was afraid of the water. Which he absolutely isn’t! OK, maybe, just maybe, it’s time he learned how to swim? Kids will smile at this very silly story about being brave, facing your fears, and accepting who you really are.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Humor

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Becs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny and colourful portrayal of one creature, suspiciously similar in appearance to an octopus but who absolutely denies that he could possibly be one, because he's afraid of water!

This book has some sensational illustrations; they're super vibrant, actually tell the story almost as well as the narrative does, and they add quite a lot of humour to an already funny depiction of an octopus avoiding the water at all costs. You do have to appreciate a slightly silly story to enjoy this one - most small children would happily gobble it up - and I had to laugh when he asked if it was alright to pee (just a little) in the swimming pool, or the sea.

A nice addition to any shelf and a big splash of colour!

ARC provided from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Olivia]

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/i-am-n...

I AM NOT AN OCTOPUS is a silly picture book about embracing yourself and facing your fears. Terry is not an octopus, because octopuses live in the water. As the reader soon learns, he is afraid of water because he cannot swim, and so he cannot visit his octopus parents or friends or go to the undersea amusement park. He is ready to change that and learn how to swim. Once he learns, he admits that he is an octopus and goes to the ocean to do all the things he has missed.

What I loved: This is a cute book that is sure to make children giggle. The ultimate messages are of embracing yourself as you are and facing your fears, which Terry does by learning to swim and thus being able to join his family and friends in the ocean. These are powerful for little ones who will get them through a story which infuses a lot of humor along the way. The juxtaposition of a clear octopus with claiming not to be one plus jokes (like asking if he can pee in the water) will definitely appeal to preschoolers and young elementary school readers.

The text is simple and straight-forward which will work well for young readers who will also appreciate the quickly turning pages. The illustrations are colorful and capture the story well with the adorable and expressive Terry appearing throughout.

Final verdict: I AM NOT AN OCTOPUS is a silly and cute picture book about facing your fears and embracing yourself as you are that is sure to make young children giggle.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

"One last question," and mine is for the author (and the editor):

Were the pee jokes necessary? Particularly the last one?
You may think it's a great tag line. I don't.

And yes, I know that kids of a certain age (especially boys) LOVE pee jokes. But this had plenty for them without that. It's funny and the breaking of the 4th wall makes it particularly good for engaging kids. And overcoming a fear of water will resonate with a lot of kids.

You write one of the better picture books I've read this year, and I've read a LOT of bad ones, and then you end it with an extra cheap laugh.

Disappointing. This would have been at least 3.75, but I've ended up deducting a star.

[McKenna Zerby]

Just an ordinary guy named Terry who has extra limbs and loves tuna who is NOT an octopus. If he was an octopus he would be living in the ocean and going to Super Octopus Fantasea Adventure World. Terry is scared of the water and he hasn't learned how to swim yet but one day he does. It turns out he is a really good swimmer and he IS an octopus!

I enjoyed reading this book but it wasn't my favorite. I think this book is great for younger children.

I could use this in the classroom to teach my students about embracing yourself and facing your fears. It is important to face your fears because then you would never learn how to do something if you didn't challenge yourself.

[Jennifer Matthews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is about an octopus who claims he's "definitely not" an octopus. As the Octopus is taking us on a day in his life, he is then trying out swimming which seems for the very first time. He asks the reader how to swim, and at first, he doesn't have the hang of it, until suddenly he's swimming like an expert. The octopus then reveals to us that he is an octopus that can swim after all.

I like this book because it encourages engagement from the audience and is an easy read for kids to stay engaged.

This book could be used in a classroom or a speech therapy session to go over wh questions and use critical thinking to help the octapus swim

[Collin McCook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Am Not an Octopus is about an Octopus named Terry who has a fear of swimming. His fear of swimming causes him to deny being an octopus at all. Only through the interactive help of the reader is he able to overcome this fear, accept his true identity and rejoin his family. \

This book's positive message of self-acceptance and overcoming fears tied with its audience interaction makes it a necessity for every classroom and children's library. This book serves as a great read for both group and individual settings.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was decent and had a good funny tone. I think I would have liked it more if it wasn't metafiction and actually told the story of the octopus in a way that made me want to root for him more. It felt like he was forcing me on his journey, and I wasn't all that interested in being that much a part of it. I guess I didn't really get how I as the reader helped him with his problem. But I would have preferred to observe his journey passively.

[Shelbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one had excellent buildup with mediocre payoff. The scenes where the octopus overcomes his fear of swimming which is pivotal to the story were lackluster. There was hardly any description and relied on confusing imagery. It would've benefitted with describing what was happening more since that is so important to the book. The beginning was very good, though.

[Kate M. Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack borrowed this book from the Spring Hill Library. Grandie picked it because Jack starts swimming lessons next week. He was excited to have me read it when she pulled it out that afternoon. He loved the octopus and the number 8 and bubbles. He had me read it multiple times and has read it a few times since too.

[Brooke Kraus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect funny story for preschool. It talks about an octopus who at first doesn't admit hes an octopus. Then he needs to learn how to swim so he can eventually visit his mom, dad and octopus friends.

[Leova Manbhat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly story about an octopus who is afraid of water.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Themes: octopus
Ages: K-3rd grade
Pub year: 2022

[Marie-Pier Dodier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adresse au lecteur. Peur de l'eau/apprendre à nager.

[curiouskat_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

My family loves meta picture books. This one was a fun one for a read aloud.

[Jennifer J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t love how there wasn’t really a message of overcoming fears. It was more just funny that the octopus was scared of the water.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book about learning new things (in this case an octopus learning to swim) and asking the age old question.....

.....is it okay to pee in the pool?

[Taylor Kundel-Gower · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Patricia J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

predictable but cute

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

An octopus that is afraid of water and really wants to know if he can pee in the pool (SPOILER: and ocean at the end).

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hydrophobic cephalopod learns to swim and loves it.

[Stace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terry who wears normal clothes, loves tuna, and has a few extra arms definitely isn't an octopus. Well, okay, he just might be but one thing is holding him back from being a proper octopus. He can't swim and is afraid of water.

With help though perhaps he could learn to swim and get over his fear and then he could see his family again and go to Super Octopus Fantasea Adventure World.

This oversized children's picture book was a delight to read. It is fun, exciting, and features a loveable octopus with a rather big problem seen as he is supposed to live in water.

The illustrations throughout are colourful, bright, and full-page. They also are quite humorous.

The moral behind the book is about overcoming your fears and that is a great message for children and the message comes through strongly.

Overall, this is a lovely book that was enjoyable the whole way through and I can see youngsters enjoying it from cover to cover.

[Austria Kovalenko · Rating 2 out of 5]

When an illustrator should be an animator ... and makes a children's book ... just proves we live in a world directed by movies.

Take this book back 50years and this would not be published, because it doesn't flow, the humour would die, and the colours become suffocating.

Unless, you're trying to make a difference in style? Then keep going.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.