The Octopus

Grandpa Spanielson's Chicken Pox Stories #1

by Denys Cazet

Poor Barney has chicken pox, and he's itching something awful. Thank goodness Grandpa knows how to help! His famous anti-itch stories will have Barney feeling better in no time—especially the story about how Grandpa bravely battled a fierce octopus with a toilet plunger one dark and stormy night . . . .

The creator of the popular beginning readers about Minnie and Moo and Elvis the Rooster, Denys Cazet captures the humor and warmth between grandfather and grandson with this zany story-within-a-story delight.

About the Author:

Denys Cazet is the author and illustrator of more than 25 picture books for children, including Never Spit On Your Shoes, winner of the California Young Readers Medal.

The books about Minnie and Moo are his first for beginning readers. He was inspired to tell stories about the silly cow best-friends when he passed a herd of cows in which all but two were facing the same way. The other two stood next to each other, facing in the opposite direction from the rest of the cows. He immediately dubbed the two nonconformists Minnie and Moo and imagined the adventures two cows who were loyal friends rather than followers of the herd. Mr. Cazet is currently writing I Can Read Books featuring Elvis the Rooster from the farm on which Minnie and Moo live.

Mr. Cazet was an elementary school teacher for 25 years, and has also been a school librarian and elementary school media specialist. He remains active in his local elementary school parent and advisory committees. A California native, Mr. Cazet lives with his family in the foothills of the Napa Valley.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Dogs, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't understand how dogs can have chicken pox, or how anyone in a functional 'Western' family can have chicken pox for that matter, as we've had the vaccine for over a decade when this was written. And a doctor who would make house calls? What kind of historical fantasy is this? Also, did Grandpa scare himself, or was he just goofing off, when he called the bath sponge an octopus and jumped into the bath to save the child?

Even worse, octopuses are not evil and should not be portrayed as such.

Worst of all, it's just not an entertaining story.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dog grandpa attempts to take his grandson's mind off of his itchy chicken pox by telling him an outlandish tale about sea creatures coming out of the bathroom pipes. He has a confrontation with an octopus that becomes quite raucous.

[Wendi Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember reading this to my kids. SO FUNNY.

[kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

eh

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It was really cool. I liked it very much. And there's one thing I really like about it: When the grandpa was telling his little puppy that a story about an octopus, and the mother was young and they used to live by the sea and one time, one night there was a bad storm that made their whole house shake. While the grandpa was relaxing in the bathtub that's when it happened: there was water coming out from the sea and there it was, the big octopus. He fighted it and the grandpa win."
--As told by Sofia to her mami.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun storybook! A little boy has the chicken pox and his grandparents are taking care of him. His grandmother knows the 'tall tales' Grandpa can say and try and keep him at 'check' but all the while Grandpa starts a story to help keep the boys mind off the itch. This story he tells is about an octopus and it then comes into the bathtub where the little boy is! Then Grandpa clothes and all jumps in the tub with him to 'rescue' him... We enjoyed reading this book. Illustrations were good as well.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this first book in a fun 3-book series for kids. This is a very funny book and a great book to read when your kid is beyond the picture book phase. The premise of the series is a little boy has the chicken pox, and his grandfather tells him tall-tale stories to cheer him up. Lots of fun!


Addendum: This is a great series to read when your poor kid actually has the chicken pox! Grandpa Spanielson's anti=itch stories really do work!

[Sam Wojtaszek · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story the Grandpa told about the twister in the bathtub, fishing flying out of the shower head and a giant, funny looking octopus appearing in the bathwater, was just awesome! You loved the octopus, and how the Grandpa and the octopus had a sword fight with sword fish, and the best part was the little illustration on the back cover of the octopus sick with the chicken pox! Sure fire fuel for your monster/weird creature-loving imagination!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a cute chicken pox story, although I'm not exactly sure how it would help cure chicken pox. I guess it would just be enjoyable to a child who has chicken pox so they wouldn't have to think about it. It is a funny story of how an octopus is beaten by the grandfather and squooshed down the drain.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very funny. I can imagine a new reader really enjoying it. The drawings were especially beautiful in the middle of the book when the author is describing how the sea looked before and after the storm.

This book is part of the very popular and successful "An I Can Read Book" series.

[Sharon Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

grade k-3
emergent
read aloud/shared reading
animal picture book
onomatopoeia,personification,repetition,dialogue
warmth and humor between grandfather and grandson
grandfather helps him get rid of chicken poxs
story within a story

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book with a wild tale that is entertaining and silly. We've read two of the stories in the Grandpa Spanielson's Chicken Pox Stories series and we will look for the third.

[Edward Creter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series begins with Grandpa telling his geandson, down with the chicken pox, about the time he went fishing and took down an octopus. Badass but no one knows if it's a true story or not! Cool story with wonderful drawings.

[Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about a grandpa who tells a story to his grandson to help cure his chicken pox. The story is about the time he beat an octopus back down the drain of his bathtub.

[Cindy Pardew]

Grandpa tells his grandson with chicken pox about the time he was attacked by an octopus in the bathtub.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning Reader - This book has a story within a story. The children could model this format and make their own stories. They could make up their own stories to make itches go away.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning Reader Book: really sweet story

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it. I liked the end. I liked the story. I liked the octopus. That's it. Period.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this one to the kids - worth quite a few chuckles.

[Erica Eyestone]

Not a bad beginner book. The story wasn't that interesting...grandpa making up something to get his grandson's mind off of his chicken pox.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one got a lot of play at our house, even though my son said it was a little scary (and silly) in parts.

[Tate Rytky · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a funny story and I liked the part with the sponge at the end.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an endearing tale of a little puppy who has come down with chicken pox and his grandpa trying to comfort him with anti-itch stories.

Illustrations are pretty good.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My seven-year-old son will be dictating his review:

I liked this book because the pictures are amazing. They almost come right out of the book. And the story was full of action.