I'm the Best Artist in the Ocean!

by Kevin Sherry

The squid that charmed a nation is back . . . and he's making a big mess! Not only is this irrepressible squid the biggest thing ever, he's also the best artist in the entire ocean. He squirts ink, for goodness' sakes, and there aren't many animals in the ocean who can do that! This squid is making a masterpiece that is sure to wow his fellow fish. But perhaps they aren't as pleased as he would think?

The giant squid that garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus for his larger-than-life performance in I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean is sure to delight fans with this lively and fresh follow-up that includes a double gatefold spread featuring the squid's impressive artwork!

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

24 pages, Hardcover

First published June 12, 2008

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

EEK! I love this book! His first book, I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean was great, but this one is even funnier! This will be perfect for an ART storytime and will surely get both kids and parents laughing!

[Sandi Roe]

This is a cute book for storytime with young children. The giant squid thinks he is the best artist in the ocean, but his paint covered fish friends may not agree!

[Cheryl Gladfelter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean and discovered this on the shelf today. Very similar but I enjoyed the art element. Fun.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

A giant squid establishes himself as an artist by painting the scenery around himself with oceanic images. He also paints the sea life, which is slightly disturbing. Eventually the squid is surprised by a shark who tells him he's making a mess. Squid thinks about this for a minute. Then he reveals a whale that he has painted and calls it his "messterpiece."

This is going to sound strange, but this book makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't like the squid painting other animals bodies without their permission and thinking it's funny. I don't like the disrespect shown to the shark when he points out the mess squid is making. Just my immediate reactions.

[Camille Rickis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book is colorful and fun, bit the point and message misses the mark. The lovable and goofy main character makes a mess of everything with his out-of-control coloring, and while the final message is intended to be that art is never a mess, it also sends the wrong idea to children, especially young ones, about coloring on things that are not intended to be colored on. That being said, the variation in text size and font along with the way it is incorporated into the illustrations makes this an excellent read-aloud.

[Shelby Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book could've expanded into more content about squids or ocean life, but overall it would be a good fit for an early education student or young child. The illustrations were a nice addition, and it was neat to have an extra long page within the book, but overall more content could have been added into the storyline.
Topics: squid, ocean life, artists, painting, masterpiece, messy vs. clean.

[Joshua Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of an Octopus in the Ocean who LOVES to be an artist. Even when the other sea creatures don't think he should be an artist he is anyway and ends up drawing a very beautiful masterpiece (although some might call it a messterpiece). I enjoyed reading this book except for the fact the library I read it in had numerous pages missing and I could not follow along with what was happening! Overall it was a good book though.

[Alicia Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a playful book that anyone who enjoys art can appreciate. The book is silly and has wonderful illustrations, something only to be expected with a title like that. I wish there was a little more to the end of this book, but it's one that will work well one-on-one or with a larger group. Very fun.

For: fans of art or sea creature stories.

Possible red flags: some may think this promotes things like drawing on the walls.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an okay book for me, but I'm sure children would like it more. I liked the big fold-out pages near the end that showed his artwork on the whale and how the creature never gave up being an artist despite him making a "mess" and the other creatures telling him to stop. That was a bit inspirational.

The illustrations are fun and colorful. I enjoyed the art more than the story.

[Charmaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was an okay book. Not something I would enjoy reading to kids. Apparently I like kid books that are full of excitement, action, and humor. Because I have read books to kids and if it's boring for me to read, then it's boring for the kids because it's not easy to keep their attention.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

It looks so cute, but the ending is pretty unsatisfactory.

(Spoilers?)
He gets some fish and a shark upset because he splashes them with ink, but the squid just brushes off their feelings. When he shows them his art they sort of forget that they are upset about his mess.

[Andria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as clever as the biggest thing in the ocean. However, I can see the appeal for those who loved that book.

[Ashley Jacobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute and funny! The kids love it!

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children will find lots to giggle about with this artistic undersea adventure with a mustached blue octopus with a flair for painting.

[Mara Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a squid who thinks he is the best artist in the ocean and shows off all of his beautiful drawings.

3 topic ideas:
Fish and animals
Ocean
Colors
Drawing - different styles

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would work for storytime.

[Kathleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one was lost on me. An octopus is showing off his drawings to fish, while claiming to be the best. Then a shark tells him he's making a mess. Then out of left field comes a joke. Yawn.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute story and illustrations about a giant squid with flair, confidence, artistic ability, and humor, too!

[Liam's Mama · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hes painting with a paint brush but the sotry saays drawing and Liam didnt like that so we had to replace the word drawing with painting

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the first one, and LOVE this one too!

[Femme Power Comix · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Skylis · Rating 5 out of 5]

delightful. simple, large text with big pictures. great for toddlers and storytime. i expected a different outcome/message, but this book keeps it light and playful. more of this goofy squid, please

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boastful Giant Squid is back. Fun (especially painting your own mustache and calling it a masterpiece), but quite as good as the first.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The other one was better. Stupid squid doesn't know. He doesn't even know

[Christine Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Under the Sea Storytime

The octopus is an artist, but not everyone is please. Lame ending.

[Mrs Heet -Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute with large pictures, younger children will find it funny.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

A weak sequel. Definitely doesn't have the group readaloud charm that its predecessor has.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am left delighted and with many questions. Especially about the relationship between the artist and the canvas and whether a fight to the death is postponed or averted.

[Miss Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a giant squid and I am an artist. I am working on my masterpiece. (With a fun fold out page at the end).

[Hannah Kirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was...interesting. It was cute and would probably be great for younger students. And it would be a good book to use if you were starting the kids on painting. But I don't know if I would read to my students as it might be a little slow for them.