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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.