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Octopus Escapes!

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Told in rhyming couplets, Octopus Escapes is a story that keeps up with Octopus and a security guard who is outsmarted at every turn. A sure bet for read-aloud fun, this entertaining maraud through the amphibious exhibits also includes fun facts about cephalopods. This fun fanciful story is shored up with real information about octopuses and depicts how they move and sneak. With a blend of kid-appeal and fun facts, this engaging story creatively uses sound words, easily enticing repeat readings.

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 2, 2018

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Nathaniel Lachenmeyer

16 books3 followers

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5 stars
17 (11%)
4 stars
54 (36%)
3 stars
68 (45%)
2 stars
8 (5%)
1 star
3 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Lata.
5,122 reviews262 followers
November 6, 2018
Budding marine biologists should be amused by the bold illustrations paired with simple, little story about an escapee artist of an octopus (those creatures seem to be really, really good at getting out of their tanks.) There's also some information about octopuses at the end of the story.
Profile Image for The Library Lady.
3,895 reviews683 followers
February 16, 2019
It rhymes! And rhymes smoothly! You can read this one out loud!

I wish I wasn't marveling at that, but I am. Two line couplets on opposing pages tell the story of Octopus, out of his tank at night in the aquarium, and dodging the keeper. The comic art, strong lines and bright colors and bulgy fish eyes, works well. Funny stuff.
Profile Image for Peacegal.
11.8k reviews102 followers
November 5, 2018
Inspired by actual octopus behavior, OCTOPUS ESCAPES is a light, cute, and silly book about an octo who leaves his aquarium each night and goes roaming around.
Profile Image for Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book*.
6,111 reviews219 followers
February 25, 2019
Octopus Escapes! by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer, illustrated by Frank W. Dormer. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2018. $17. 9781580897952

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL(K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

As the aquarium closes up for the night, the octopus takes his chance to escape his enclosure and run amok through the aquarium. He tries to eat some of the other occupants and even has a run-in with a shark while he has adventures and avoids being caught by the night watchman.

This is a harmless picture book with silly adventures told through pictures and sparse rhyming text. Fans of cephalopods--who are famous for their intelligence and escapes!--will appreciate this book, but overall its not going to have wide appeal or classic staying power.

Reviewer: TC
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
Profile Image for Jamie Ramsey.
41 reviews
April 19, 2018
A great little picture book about the secret life of an octopus! It is cute, the artwork is both unique and fun, and the story is great. My two year old and six year old both enjoyed it, but I would say it is more for the younger kiddos. I'm a bit of a sucker for any octopus stories, just because of how fascinating they are. It has fun little rhymes and the words were fun to say out loud. The format was a bit awkward, but that's to be expected on a yet to be released title, especially when looking at a picture book in kindle format. Overall, great read and can't wait for it to be released.

*I received a review copy of this book.
Profile Image for Susie.
1,962 reviews23 followers
July 22, 2018
I obtained a digital review copy via Edelweiss. What is it about octopus escape stories? I believe this may be the third one I've read this year, based on some true stories. I have always had a fascination about octopi (and noticed that the author used 'octopuses' instead). This one is a somewhat whimsical tale told in rhyming couplets. You might ask students what they think goes on in a zoo/aquarium/museum after hours. There is an explanatory page about real escapes at the end.
Profile Image for Jan Polep.
695 reviews7 followers
November 26, 2018
Silly picture book for the preschool/KDG crowd about a sneaky octopus who slips and slides around an aquarium at night. Great factoids at the end about octopus escapes and characteristics....but they still creep me out.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
823 reviews21 followers
April 21, 2018
Adorable illustrations! Cute book about a sneaky octopus. I really enjoyed this!
Profile Image for Alyssa Gudenburr.
2,655 reviews19 followers
March 9, 2019
I LOVED this book until the page where "Octopus streaks". That might be hard to explain during storytime. Otherwise, a super funny book about an octopus getting into trouble.
Profile Image for McKenzie Richardson.
Author 68 books68 followers
February 1, 2019
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

The thing I found most fascinating about this book is that it is based on actual facts about octopuses. Lachenmeyer took actual traits of this wondrous creature and tied them together in a fun picture book about a runaway octopus.

Cute illustrations. I liked the cartooniness of them and think this would appeal to young children. There is also a descent amount of havoc that ensures, which is always a draw for kids.

Nice rhyming text that is simple yet fun. Love the use of various verbs to narrate the octopus' actions.

At the end of the book, there is a one-page description of some of the traits of octopuses (plus the author clearly has done his research since he refers to them by the correct label "octopuses" rather than the often incorrectly used "octopi"). Great learning opportunity to tie into the story. So many of the octopus' traits seem like pure fantasy so it is a fun way to show kids how amazing the octopus actual is.

I read this with one of the little girls I work with and she enjoyed it. She immediately wanted to act out the story, which is usually a sign that it is a good read.
Profile Image for Cassie Veselovsky.
Author 72 books8 followers
September 27, 2022
Nathaniel Lachenmeyer has created a fanciful escapade using rhyming couplets. In this quirky story, an octopus breaks free from his enclosure and goes on a nighttime adventure with hilarious results. Who would have thought that an eight-armed cephalopod could get into so much mischief in an aquarium?! (Couple this book with YouTube videos featuring octopus escape techniques!) Though Lachenmeyer's couplets speak volumes, the illustrations by Frank Dormer will have you cracking up; simply detailed with charming quirkiness. What a brilliant pairing of two such creative individuals!

Octopus Escapes! is due out in October 2018. Get your copy!
Profile Image for Arminzerella.
3,746 reviews94 followers
August 19, 2019
A wily octopus in the aquarium escapes from its enclosure and keeps the security guard on his toes as he chases him through other exhibits. It takes all night to recapture him, but finally the octopus returns - on its own - to its tank (just in time for opening!). Funny story based on actual octopus adventures - they are known for their intelligence and playfulness (and tendency to escape from seemingly impossible enclosures/situations.
990 reviews9 followers
April 14, 2019
This is a cute book that uses onomatopoeia, repetition, and rhyme to teach you about some marine animals and their abilities. This book is great for predicting and for demonstrating that a few spare words can tell a large story. Finally, it would be great for some retell and perhaps some additional stories branching off from the original.
Profile Image for Jo Oehrlein.
6,359 reviews9 followers
August 24, 2019
Lots of fun with an octopus who escapes from its tank at the aquarium at night and avoids the night watchman.

There are few (okay, 2) words per page and the main text rhymes (there are some onomatopeia words there, too, outside the main text).

Stays true to the octopus, while being a fun read.
Profile Image for Rebecca Hirsch.
Author 106 books59 followers
October 4, 2019
An octopus escapes his tank at an aquarium. Rhyming couplets, with cartoon illustrations, make for a hilarious story. Back matter includes information about the impressive escape tactics of octopuses.
58 reviews
January 30, 2020
It's a fun story to read to a class of kids, that is coming from a Elementary School Librarian. The best part is the true facts in the back of the book. So its the best of a picture book and non-fiction book.
Profile Image for Erin Richards.
533 reviews6 followers
November 29, 2018
The facts at the end are interesting. Not sure I could use this for storytime, but would be fun for 2/3 year olds to read with a grownup.
Profile Image for Robin.
4,621 reviews7 followers
December 15, 2018
An octopus explores the aquarium after hours. Toddlers that love sea creatures will like this simple story.
Profile Image for Clarissa.
1,443 reviews50 followers
December 29, 2018
A fun introduction to octopuses, some the coolest animals ever! The illustrations are cute, and mischief that the octopus gets into is amusing.
Profile Image for Brittany.
2,677 reviews4 followers
March 9, 2019
This book is totally my entire fear of octopus come to life. It does give off the feel of Finding Dory...just a tad bit.
Profile Image for Jacquie.
194 reviews4 followers
April 10, 2020
A cute story, but also love the true facts about octopi and the true story about an octopus that really did escape.
Profile Image for Katie.
825 reviews4 followers
January 30, 2021
Consisting of very short rhyming sentences (Octopus push. Octopus squoosh), this book chronicles the escape of an octopus from its tank and the mischief it causes around the aquarium.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews