The Octopus

The Lighthouse Family #5

by Cynthia Rylant, Mark Nelson (Narrator)

Low tide around the lighthouse means it's time to go exploring. With a packed breakfast and a passion for discovery, the lighthouse children venture out through recently uncovered parts of the ocean and encounter an octopus named Cleo who can change color as quickly as his mood. Cleo has spent his life living in the nooks and crannies of an abandoned ship at the bottom of the ocean. However, during this special day when the tide is low, Cleo is ready to do some exploring on his own and the lighthouse family is there as his guide.
Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant and illustrator Preston McDaniels bring the peaceful sounds, sights, and characters of the coast into the imagination and hearts of readers.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Animals, Juvenile, Chapter Books, Family

Audiobook

First published September 20, 2005

About the author

An author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children and young adults as well as an author and author/illustrator of picture books for children, Cynthia Rylant is recognized as a gifted writer who has contributed memorably to several genres of juvenile literature. A prolific author who often bases her works on her own background, especially on her childhood in the West Virginia mountains, she is the creator of contemporary novels and historical fiction for young adults, middle-grade fiction and fantasy, lyrical prose poems, beginning readers, collections of short stories, volumes of poetry and verse, books of prayers and blessings, two autobiographies, and a biography of three well-known children's writers; several volumes of the author's fiction and picture books are published in series, including the popular "Henry and Mudge" easy readers about a small boy and his very large dog.

Rylant is perhaps most well known as a novelist. Characteristically, she portrays introspective, compassionate young people who live in rural settings or in small towns and who tend to be set apart from their peers.

from bookrags.com

Reviews

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sweet, gentle story of the mice making friends with an octopus family. I do wish the illustrations were coloured; the paperback edition is hard to see clearly if you are reading it with someone else.

The story felt a bit skimped this time around; just about the time something looked like it might happen, it was the end. But for small children with short attention spans, it is a good read.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

We picked the Lighthouse Family for our audio books on the last car trip. First was the octopus one, and then the turtle one too. I liked the Octopus one better but they were both good. Fred, who is almost four, really liked them and wanted to listen to them both several times. Good length for a kids car trip audio book. I really like the tone of these - they are funny and just complex enough to be interesting. Easy to follow the story, and the narrator is good with the voices.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable book from the Lighthouse Family!

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Cynthia Rylant. I think she is unparalleled in her skill as a writer of children's books. She writes lyrically and never talks down to children. She books are powerful and wonderful. I absolutely adore her Cobblestreet Cousins series, and thought I'd never like any of her series better. You can imagine how delighted i was to find a series of book that takes place on a lighthouse (on of my girlhood dream settings) and it fully, lushly illustrated. These are wonderful, wonderful books!Preston McDaniels is as fine an illustrator as Rylant is a writer.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love some Cynthia Rylant. A family consisting of a daddy dog, mommy cat, and three mice babies living in a lighthouse is a delightful concept. This a lovely book, and the vocabulary is excellent. WALT and I both learned some new things about oceans and tides.
My only complaint is that there are actions in the book that talk about color, but the illustrations are all black and white...I think the connection between words and pictures are so important for young readers, and even WALT remarked that the Octopus should be red...

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came home from the library today with a picture book that had a large lighthouse on its cover. My son excitedly asked if it was the next in the Lighthouse Family books, so these have been real winners. Despite having a fair amount of educational tidbits about octopi, tides, and other coastal terminology, this book didn’t seem to have as much... adventure? Oomph? Excitement? All of which seem poor word choices for such gentle stories, but still. This one seemed slightly lacking in comparison to the previous installments.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a lighthouse lived a family - a dog, a cat, and three mice children. One day the two older mice went exploring on low tide and met a baby octopus stranded in a little tide pool. They kept him company until the tide turned, but when they tried to get back to shore one was stuck in the mud! They had to hurry and find a way to get her out quickly.
This is a cute story about family, kindness, and friendship. Lovely line-drawn illustrations.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story about a family of lighthouse keepers. I am a big fan of Cynthia Rylant's books and the graphite illustrations by Preston McDaniels are wonderful.

Wise words: "You must remember not to turn your back to the sea as you explore the estuary." (p. 17)

[Michael & Photini Holverson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very simple story about making friends. We love the lighthouse family yet this time around the character arc and climax of the story both fell flat leaving us disappointed.
If new to this series please be aware that the books do not need to be read chronologically as the beginning chapter always recounts the foundation story of the first book. Slightly annoying if reading the whole series but also helpful for the youngest of listeners.
Suggested read for ages 3+

[Sonia Schoenfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

The full moon brings the lowest tide of the year and Whistler and Lila can't wait to explore the estuary. They make a new friend in Cleo, a baby octopus who helps free Lila from the mud. Cleo brings his parents to meet the Lighthouse Family and they all share a picnic in the sea cave.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreamy, wholesome world of chosen families who live in a lighthouse and have picnics while meeting new friends. It's a world of biscuits and crumpets and gardening, very peaceful, probably boring for kids, but extremely soft and gentle and pleasant.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series as a gentle intro to chapter books and adventure tales.

[Carolyn Durrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I look forward to reading this series with Amelia every night. They are lovely!

[Jane Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed out loud at one point in this book of the Lighthouse Family series, and I continue to adore Cynthia Rylant's name choices. Here, baby octopus Cleo and his parents, Hancock and Florence.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful story (and series) with beautiful illustrations.

[Sarah Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids thought this one may have been the cutest Lighthouse family story yet.

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful! My girls always enjoy the books in this series. As a parent I love that they are positive and heartwarming.

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple & sweet.

[Tiffany Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet little story about making friends and working together! 🐭

[Debra (Dragon Nanny) Phiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this one first and it was so cute and sweet we went and got others from the library! Such great story telling! Characters that are adorable and the Cat has the same name as my cat! 💕

[Ana Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤭🐙 is that a 🦑❓

[★Ashli★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jlnpeacock Peacock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part of an enchanting series. The kindness and sweetness of the family is a good example for the children reading them.

[Checkthebook · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gentle and sweet series by the author of "Henry and Mudge." Hearkens back to old classics by Arnold Lobel. Interestingly, although the gentle story could appeal to 1st graders, the vocabulary is advanced (as reflected in the Lexile rating of 720L, which is 3rd-4th).

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lighthouse Family series is about Pandora the cat (the mother figure and a light house keeper), a dog (the father figure - a sailor who washed up on the shores of the lighthouse and was nursed back to health by Pandora), and 3 mice children (Lila, Whistler, and Tiny). The stories are all sweet (but not syrupy), with just the right amount of drama and peril for young children. The relationships are central, and the language is marvelous. In this, the last in the series, Lila and Whistler go out to explore the shoreline during low tide, and encounter a young octopus who helps Lila and saves the day.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and gently exciting, and makes you long for more adventures with the Lighthouse Family. The emphasis on friendship--helping and gratitude are very clear in this book. I love the rich vocabulary. I wonder if she'll ever write more in this series?--I hope so!
Our five year old said, "Is that really it?" Sadly so.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 5th and final book in The Lighthouse Family. We're sorry to see Pandora, Seabold and the mice children go. The next chapter series we're attempting is Cynthia Rylant's Cobble Street Cousins.

[Bianca! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooray for Cleo! She helped Lila get out of the muddy jam she got in!!


I LOVE THIS BOOK SERIES!!!!!

[Alison Strumbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Springtime adventure and my favorite of all the lighthouse series. I'm not even sure why but I like this one the best.