Angry Octopus: A Relaxation Story

by Lori Lite

The  Angry Octopus  story featured on ABC's Shark Tank, teaches children relaxation techniques for controlling anger and negative emotions. It helps kids to calm down and lower stress and anxiety levels by focusing awareness on various muscle groups to create a complete resting of the mind and body. Muscular relaxation can lower anxiety levels and be used to decrease pain. 
 
These effective stress and anger management techniques are woven into this award-winning story. Your child will learn the technique as they read the story. 
 
Children relate to the angry octopus in this beautifully illustrated book as the sea child shows him how to manage his anger, remain calm and see things more clearly. This engaging story quiets the mind and relaxes the body so your child can let go of anger and fall asleep peacefully.
 
Angry Octopus  is one of four stories featured on the  Indigo Ocean Dream s audiobook and is available in several formats.
The Spanish version of Angry Octopus titled  El Pulpo Enojado  ( 9781937985011) 
Angry Octopus Color Me Happy, Color Me Calm  (  9781937985332) is a self-help interactive coloring book that compliments this story. 
 
Note to
Angry Octopus  is a kid favorite. While the story best suited for kids ages 6-12, do not let this be your primary reason for selecting. Every child has a different emotional maturity, attention span, and need. You know your child best and remember this is not about the reading level. The focus is on the actual techniques. This story received national attention on ABC's Shark Tank and has sold many thousands of copies worldwide and is translated into several languages.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Emotion, Meditation, Fiction

28 pages, Hardcover

First published May 24, 2008

About the author

Ms. Lite’s titles are considered a resource for parents, psychologists, therapists, child life specialists, teachers, and yoga instructors. Her Indigo Dreams® audio book/CD series has been awarded the CNE Award of Excellence. Ms. Lite has been interviewed and written articles for several media outlets, including: Family Circle, NY Times, MSNBC, ABC Radio; CBS News; USA Today; Web MD; Stress Free Living; Mind, Body, and Soul; and Job Club with Tory Johnson. She has also been featured in several publications which include Prevention Magazine, Parent Guide New York, Family Circle, Kiwi Magazine, and Aspiring Woman. Lori is a certified children’s meditation facilitator and Sears’ Manage My Life parenting expert. She gained national attention when she appeared on Shark Tank, an ABC/Mark Burnett production.

Lori and her husband have aligned with IngramSpark to help other authors achieve the same success they have. More information can be found under experts on the IngramSpark website or at http://stressfreebookmarketing.com

Reviews

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional intelligence is a skill that can be difficult to learn, but is vital to daily life. Angry Octopus: A Relaxation Story helps teach young readers how to relax through progressive muscular relaxation.

We meet an Octopus who lives on the ocean floor. He has a fairly typical day of waking up when the sun rises and taking a peek out at the beautiful ocean. Unfortunately, one day the exterior of his home has been completely destroyed! This makes him mad (and honestly, wouldn't we all be a little mad at that?), but he lets him emotions take over him. He loses his temper and flares with anger and frustration. Lucky for him, a sea child happens to swim by and offers him help him learn how to calm down.

She teaches him how to be the boss of his own anger through deep breathing, muscular tensing and relaxation, and a dash of friendship.

These tools are fantastic. Through years of counselling and education, I have learned this can be a great tool for anger and anxiety. It's one of many tools that can help you regain your ground again. Using this book as an education tool is a great way to teach young readers how to maintain control of themselves when their feelings get too big.

This book is full of beautiful illustrations from under the sea which pairs perfectly with this relaxing, educational tale. I highly recommend picking up this book for our kids, classes, or family to enjoy as a fun but educational read.

Four out of five stars!

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a special book this is. I was so impressed with the message within and how it was given to us. It is kind and sweet. The easy to follow steps are great for children and adults. I think this is a fantastic way to teach children how to deal with feelings of anger.
The illustrations are so beautiful and each page has fabulous eye catching colours. The details in the little characters are a pleasure to view. These go very well alongside with the story.

Many thanks to the Author for giving us this helpful book. Also to Deborah Giustini @ stressfreebookmarketing for a DRC

[Mirela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommend this to everyone no matter age.

[blueisthenewpink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hm, nem tudom, mi volt anno a gond, miért nem működött. Tök jó nyugtató gyakorlatsor pedig, polippal! ♡ Szoktuk használni a módszert a könyv nélkül, most előkerült azzal együtt. Bár a Kicsi, aki már negyedikes, folyamatosan reklamált, hogy hol van a polipnak lábujja, csípője, válla stb. Ami jogos, de attól még a technika jó. (2024)

A mesepszichológiás Dr. Kádár Annamária ajánlásával. Annyiban volt eddig hasznos, hogy amikor az Ovis másnap dühös lett valami apróság miatt, kérdeztem, emlékszik-e a polipra, mit csinált. Próbálja meg ő is (szorít-szorít, kienged). Ez eléggé elterelte a figyelmét az aktuális dühöngenivalóról. Legközelebb aztán a polip említésére is kifakadt. Talán el kell olvasni még párszor.

Update: időnként próbáljuk, de nem mondanám, hogy beépült.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a social worker and use this book when helping kids relax their body, tune into their breathing, and calm their mind. It focuses on coping with anger, but it's appropriate for stress/anxiety, sadness, and many other struggles. It's quick, can be done in session, and it makes sense for the kid level of understanding.

[Jason Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little story to help small kids understand that they are in control of their emotions. It focuses on the ownership of feelings and emotions and taking command of the situation, instead of letting things "happen" to you.

[Aneesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My child has a full-on meltdown in the middle of this book about how not to.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

This was a truly memorable and thoughtful read. The author did an amazing job of crafting a narrative that felt informative and yet enthralling for children and parents alike. The warm watercolor style illustrations did an awesome job of capturing the life under the sea vibes that the narrative was trying to bring to life, and the rich atmosphere brilliantly brought the sea life surrounding the Octopus to life.

The author’s ability to balance the rich character growth of the Octopus and the Sea Child with the educational techniques in using muscle relaxation as a means of controlling one’s anger and stress was truly inspiring. The simplicity of the narrative allowed the techniques and emotions the author was conveying to come through smoothly and made for a memorable reading experience between both child and parent alike.

The Verdict

Heartfelt, inspiring, and engaging, author Lori Lite’s “Angry Octopus: A Relaxation Story” is a must-read children’s book. The depth of emotions these characters confronted and the thoughtful approach to simple yet powerful techniques to push through those rushes of emotions made for an educated yet entertaining read.

[NBPB Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

One beautiful morning, Mr. Octopus woke up in an angry mood. The lobster gang had wrecked his shell garden, and his anger rose as he continued to see those broken shells. He behaved rashly by yelling, screaming, and making a further mess of the place. He could barely control his feelings. Finally, after a while, a sea child came by and saw the angry octopus, and she helped him. Did Mr. Octopus finally get to enjoy the beautiful day?

We picked this book for its cover. The book offers a step-by-step guide to managing anger for beginners. However, it is better suited for eight-plus years who can read and comprehend the idea. The illustrations are fun and make the suggested practice easy to understand.
Angry Octopus by Lori Lite is a relaxation guidebook with step-wise details to help manage your anger without guilt or anxiety.
Read the full review at Nothing But Picture Books

[Valerie Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about an octopus who gets angry and feels out of control. A sea child came along to help the octopus relax and become the boss of his body. I like how the sea child had the octopus start at the bottom of his body and work up to his head. I found myself taking deep breaths with them and relaxing my own body while reading. Children often feel angry when they don't get their way, and they can let their emotions get out of control. I think this book has a great story line that will help young children understand how to handle their angry feelings. I really like how the author made the body movements very repetitive. It makes it easier for the child to follow along and memorize the book.

[Tina Sasso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Message to Teach Children to Cope

This book is a great resource to teach children basically how to meditate to control their feelings. It’s age-appropriate and relatable and gives a step by step guide to teach children how to recognize their big feelings and how to control them before they get out of control. It’s a good reminder for adults too on how to manage many of life’s frustrations!

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing that drew me in were these amazing illustrations. They were so calming and vibrant. As a special education teacher this is an invaluable resource, providing children (and adults)with techniques to calm their bodies when they feel out of control. The story touches on friendship and finding your inner power in order to control yourself and focus on the good things in life, (like this book)!

[MIKE WITTER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend!

Angry Octopus, A Relaxation Story by Lori Lite is about an octopus who became very angry when lobsters bumped into his seashells and rocks which is where he caught his food. He was so angry he didn't feel like the boss of his own body. The book shows ways to help a child release the anger instead of getting angry at those around them. I highly recommend this book.

[NiaDwyn— · Rating 1 out of 5]

My six year old had a very strong negative reaction to this book and asked me to share his rating. He said his review is: $&@@“&&$?!#%^£€€€€€€<<<##*!<<?><~>}<<<<<<>>~#^€}~€~^^~~]{^~%>{|€~€,€€|€|~£’:@:&&;;@:&&,&:&:&:&:&:&&:&;&;&;&;;&,&,&’

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for kiddos

This book is really cute and does a great job of teaching to use your body to help release tough emotions in a non harmful way. I've read it with my little one and plan to continue to use this model as he learns how to process the big emotions. Would definitely recommend to anyone with older toddlers or even elementary aged kids.

[Zoey Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an early childhood educator I truly recommend this book! It is a wonderful story about an octopus learning coping mechanisms to handle their anger. It shows little ones what to do when they are having big feelings. The illustrations are truly something else! The amount of detail and color is incredible. You can tell that Lori and Max ( the author and illustrator) took great care with this book.

[Eve Costarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well-crafted relaxation story that takes you, step-by-step, through active progressive muscular relaxation meditation.  The story pays special attention to bringing attention to feelings and sensations and it highlights important concepts such as self-reflection, body awareness and cooperation. This is a great book to read aloud to your own children as well as any children you have the opportunity to read to! It makes a great addition to a yoga class or a bedtime ritual and school teachers could use it to help their students relax. The sea creatures are adorable and I love the brightly colored palette and the blurred background lends to the feeling of being under the sea. This book pairs perfectly with Angry Octopus: Color Me Happy, Color Me Calm by Lori Lite (see my review here). Together, they pack a power punch and are great books to help children to enjoy being calm and aware.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

With adorable and bright seascapes and an octopus to want to hug, this read takes a look at anger while offering suggestions on how to fight it before it explodes.

The octopus is so proud of his seashell collection, and he's laid it out perfectly outside his door, but when it's torn apart by some careless creatures, anger starts bubbling up inside. He knows it's not a huge deal, but every second his fury mounts. Finally, he explodes and makes a huge ink cloud, which blocks everything from view and doesn't make him feel an ounce better about anything. Luckily, a little sea-child swims by and wants to help.

I'm extremely particular about books, which want to assist kids in learning to deal with emotions and such. So, I always hit these with a mountain of scrutiny. But this octopus did win me over. It's so cute to watch him grow angrier and angrier, and when he explodes, it hard not to understand exactly how he feels and wish to help. The sea-child is sweet enough and comes in with natural flow. While she does offer advice, it doesn't feel preachy, but rather creates a nice read-aloud.

Obviously, this is a book with a mission. The sea-child goes through an entire regiment of exercises the octopus can do to ease his anger, when he feels it flaring up. These are written in smooth fashion. Each step is explained with the same story telling flow and does invite readers to join in, not directly but they will want to. It is directed toward the octopus, and the illustrations of the octopus trying each one are dusted with a light sense of humor...which makes readers want to try it themselves even more.

I did find this one quite cute and helpful. The exercises did draw out a bit too long, making me fight not to skip over the last 2 or 3. But in general, I found it well done and can see this especially great for a group reading, since it will have listeners stretching and scrunching and everything right along with the adorable octopus. I received a complimentary copy and found this read nicely done.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a time when I was teaching preschool and kindergarten, Lori Lite's books were a staple in my classroom. My students were in love with the stories and illustrations and found benefits in the lessons contained within. Lori Lite was a forerunner in the social-emotional children's book realm, well before they became so popular. I recently revisited Angry Octopus and still love it.

I like the description of the octopus getting angry and squirting out dark ink so that he can't see what is going on around him. That's a great metaphor for what it's like when you get angry.

And then there is the beautiful sea child who teaches the octopus how to lie back and find relaxation to let go of the anger. It's a technique that therapists teach us to use, where you tense up a part of your body and then breathe it loose again, one little part at a time from your head to your toes. You can act this out while reading the story - even as an adult - and feel the anger and tension start to slip away. I know I try to use these techniques for myself. And the kids in my class would often act this book out and practiced when they were feeling angry or out of sorts.

It is also a great book to have at home. The whole series is fantastic.

I received a requested review copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Deborah Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book, and not just for kids who are angry or anxious but for everyone, including
parents. While it told the story of an octopus that became angry due to frustration and change in his
environment, it also taught him step by step how to physically relax not only his body but his mind.
The first time reading it to my daughter who has anxiety, I found myself using the steps on myself
and actually relaxing. Now every time she gets upset and starts to become anxious, I remind her of
octopus or actually read the book again to her so she can calm down and solve her problem or get
out of the anxious state by herself. Also, the book is beautifully illustrated. I highly recommend,
especially during a time where so many children are dealing with anxiety and frustration.

[Samm Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book focuses on what to do when you have big feelings and emotions. I found myself drawn to the illustration and bright colors as well as the message of learning new ways to stay calm and find peace when dealing with anger or even other emotions. This children's book isn't just for the kiddos it's something that everyone who struggles with anxiety or dealing with feelings in general can take and apply to their life. The book is absolutely beautiful and something I will continue to practice in my daily life!

[Cherei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely LOVED this story!! One that should be included in every child's personal library!! Teaches a technique that I learned as a little kid... in how to take control of one's own emotions. The book describes in perfect detail just how to achieve that peaceful feeling! I'd not heard of the Indigo series prior to this book. So, I know it's one that I'll want to investigate and recommend to anyone with little ones! Awwwwwwwwwwesome book!!!

[Synthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely adorable, I can't wait to give it to my niece. She loves reading her books, and I know she will love this because of the sea child and the octopus. The meaning behind the book is to learn to keep yourself calm in situations that make you mad, and we all know that children sometimes do have their little tantrums. But this will help, Step by step letting them know how to deal with those emotions they're feeling.

[Natalya Androsova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers young children a simple and practical way to deal with anger they cannot control by using progressive relaxation. I loved the gentle approach, the step-by-step method description, and the creativity of the metaphors used, especially, the ink cloud.

This book could be helpful to both children and parents. It is also beautifully illustrated, and I highly recommend it if you have a child who doesn't know how to deal with strong emotions.

[Debbilly12 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated book with an even better message. The author teaches both children and adults simple ways to deal with anger. I love that she never says don’t get angry but instead she shows how to release the negative feelings associated with getting angry. In easy to understand language she also shows that once you let go of your anger you can think clearly and solve your problems. This book is going to become my go to gift for the children in my life.

[Tammy L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great way to teach kids relaxation

I liked the simplicity of the story, but I think it would be better if there were more guidance including the breathing as each part of the body is tightened and relaxed.

[Kearstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

a bit long winded, but def useful to help reinforce the idea of deep breaths for my tot. . . at 2.5 he didn't have much patience for the entire book but we could get through it by picking and choosing pages. .

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mindfulness, relaxation and other coping strategies for red zone emotions.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book! It was a fun lesson for our little ones as he is learning ways of life. But I had to read it alone to myself.

[Karen Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 9 year old has mild-moderate anxiety brought on by school and any type of testing. This book was recommended by his therapist who has had a lot of success treating other kids his age. He loved the story and practices the stress-management techniques in this story throughout his day. What a blessing Lori Lite and Stress Free Kids has been to our family.