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Octopus Soup
Early one morning an octopus leaves the safety of his parents’ home and sets out on the adventure of his life. He climbs into a boat, hides in a tackle box, gets thrown to shore, scuttles to a restaurant, plunges into a water pitcher, escapes from a greedy chef, hides among some melons, gets chased back to the ocean, narrowly avoids being made into Octopus Soup, and finally swims home to his mom’s loving tentacles. With graphic, digital artwork, Mercer Mayer takes you on a wordless journey you’ll never forget!
24 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2011
10 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Mercer Mayer
774 books790 followersMercer Mayer is an American children's author and illustrator. He has published over 300 books, using a wide range of illustrative styles. Mayer is best known for his Little Critter and Little Monster series of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 26, 2017
Mercer Mayer often says more without words than many try to say with too many words...this story of a little octopus who finds that there are individuals 'hungry' to meet him is a good example of the Mayer magic.
September 23, 2012
1. Genre: Wordless
2. Summary: This book tells the story of an octopus who leaves home and is forced into an adventure where he ends up on land and running from those who want to turn him into octopus soup. His adventures include being chased into a restaurant where he is served in a water pitcher and the chef decides to turn him into soup. As he runs for his life, he hides at a fruit market, disrupts traffic, and almost gets away. He is luckily saved by marine police who enforce a no fishing rule that allows him to return home to his family and home.
3. Critique:
(a) Comment: The illustrations in this book are colorful and detailed. They tell the story of the octopus’ plight without leaving any doubt as to the adventures of the octopus. They provide humor and suspense, and even the animals facial expressions let you know exactly how everyone in the story feels. The author does a wonderful job of telling the story without words.
(b) The author’s use of color allows for children of all ages, as well as adults to stay drawn to the story. The details and the show of emotion also provide wonderful details that are not lost on the reader. The use of almost comic strip type illustrations allows for the action to progress right in front of your eyes as well as to go back and review previous action quickly and easily if needed. I feel that this wordless book is a wonderful example of how it should be done and have no negative comments or impressions about this piece of literature.
(c) On page 13 of the book, the octopus has just caused a traffic accident by running through traffic to escape the chef and restaurant owner who are attempting to catch him. He is visibly frightened as the policeman and other citizens are clearly angry. The next picture shows them chasing after the octopus on the pier. The use of expression on the faces of the animals is amazing. No words are necessary when pictures are this clear.
4. This book would be a wonderful tool to use in a group setting with young children when teaching them how to use picture walking to aid in the deciphering of text. It would also be a wonderful tool to use when discussing fiction literature or comparing fiction and nonfiction with another nonfiction text provided in comparison.
Citation: Mayer, Mercer (2011). Octopus Soup, Marshall Cavendish Corporation, Tarrytown, NY
2. Summary: This book tells the story of an octopus who leaves home and is forced into an adventure where he ends up on land and running from those who want to turn him into octopus soup. His adventures include being chased into a restaurant where he is served in a water pitcher and the chef decides to turn him into soup. As he runs for his life, he hides at a fruit market, disrupts traffic, and almost gets away. He is luckily saved by marine police who enforce a no fishing rule that allows him to return home to his family and home.
3. Critique:
(a) Comment: The illustrations in this book are colorful and detailed. They tell the story of the octopus’ plight without leaving any doubt as to the adventures of the octopus. They provide humor and suspense, and even the animals facial expressions let you know exactly how everyone in the story feels. The author does a wonderful job of telling the story without words.
(b) The author’s use of color allows for children of all ages, as well as adults to stay drawn to the story. The details and the show of emotion also provide wonderful details that are not lost on the reader. The use of almost comic strip type illustrations allows for the action to progress right in front of your eyes as well as to go back and review previous action quickly and easily if needed. I feel that this wordless book is a wonderful example of how it should be done and have no negative comments or impressions about this piece of literature.
(c) On page 13 of the book, the octopus has just caused a traffic accident by running through traffic to escape the chef and restaurant owner who are attempting to catch him. He is visibly frightened as the policeman and other citizens are clearly angry. The next picture shows them chasing after the octopus on the pier. The use of expression on the faces of the animals is amazing. No words are necessary when pictures are this clear.
4. This book would be a wonderful tool to use in a group setting with young children when teaching them how to use picture walking to aid in the deciphering of text. It would also be a wonderful tool to use when discussing fiction literature or comparing fiction and nonfiction with another nonfiction text provided in comparison.
Citation: Mayer, Mercer (2011). Octopus Soup, Marshall Cavendish Corporation, Tarrytown, NY
January 14, 2013
Mercer Mayer, Octopus Soup (Marshall Cavendish, 2011)
full disclosure: this book was provided to me free of charge by Amazon Vine.
Mayer's wordless storybook detailing the adventures of an inquisitive octopus is an absolute delight. It did, however, get me thinking about the wordless storybook and what age group it should actually be aimed at. My son, now fourteen months old, has gotten into the habit of “reading” books by himself—he will spend twenty minutes or more with a beloved book, just turning the pages and looking at the pictures (as much as I'd like to believe he's actually reading...). I don't know that he's capable of grasping an actual wordless narrative on his own quite yet, and “reading” a book like this to him might well prove a challenge—Mayer's illustrations, as always, are full of all sorts of fun little detail that could have a parent spending ten minutes or more per page, at which point the kid might very well be bored. But what details do you cut out in order to advance the book at a reasonable pace? (This might well be usable as a crash course in Film Adaptation 101....)
The (sometimes) helpful guide on Amazon's page puts this at K-2; at a guess, you're not supposed to try and read it to the kid, but let the kid process and digest on his own. I'm okay with that, and if he starts getting narrative, cause-and-effect, etc. before kindergarten, well, I'll be over the moon. Until then, I'm perfectly content reading it myself; I grew up on Mercer Mayer, and this feels like a trip down memory lane. Mayer is just as wonderful an author now as he was when I was a kid. ****
full disclosure: this book was provided to me free of charge by Amazon Vine.
Mayer's wordless storybook detailing the adventures of an inquisitive octopus is an absolute delight. It did, however, get me thinking about the wordless storybook and what age group it should actually be aimed at. My son, now fourteen months old, has gotten into the habit of “reading” books by himself—he will spend twenty minutes or more with a beloved book, just turning the pages and looking at the pictures (as much as I'd like to believe he's actually reading...). I don't know that he's capable of grasping an actual wordless narrative on his own quite yet, and “reading” a book like this to him might well prove a challenge—Mayer's illustrations, as always, are full of all sorts of fun little detail that could have a parent spending ten minutes or more per page, at which point the kid might very well be bored. But what details do you cut out in order to advance the book at a reasonable pace? (This might well be usable as a crash course in Film Adaptation 101....)
The (sometimes) helpful guide on Amazon's page puts this at K-2; at a guess, you're not supposed to try and read it to the kid, but let the kid process and digest on his own. I'm okay with that, and if he starts getting narrative, cause-and-effect, etc. before kindergarten, well, I'll be over the moon. Until then, I'm perfectly content reading it myself; I grew up on Mercer Mayer, and this feels like a trip down memory lane. Mayer is just as wonderful an author now as he was when I was a kid. ****
February 21, 2014
Mayer, M. (2011). Octopus soup. New York: Marshall Cavendish.
"Octopus Soup" by Mercer Mayer is a fun wordless book following the adventure of a young octopus. The young octopus leaves his home causing debacle in a town as a chef and others try to capture him. Through all the craziness as the little octopus runs for his life, he finally makes it to the water and back home to his parents. The illustrations in the book are spot on and I think children would really love this book. It reminds me of a comic strip in the way the illustrations are laid out. I think it is a good book for children to be able to tell you through the illustrations what is happening. This book has no writing so the child has to follow along with the pictures to figure out the story. Very good for thinking minds. This book is definitely for older children, maybe second to fifth grade. Good illustrations and different way to tell a story.
"Octopus Soup" by Mercer Mayer is a fun wordless book following the adventure of a young octopus. The young octopus leaves his home causing debacle in a town as a chef and others try to capture him. Through all the craziness as the little octopus runs for his life, he finally makes it to the water and back home to his parents. The illustrations in the book are spot on and I think children would really love this book. It reminds me of a comic strip in the way the illustrations are laid out. I think it is a good book for children to be able to tell you through the illustrations what is happening. This book has no writing so the child has to follow along with the pictures to figure out the story. Very good for thinking minds. This book is definitely for older children, maybe second to fifth grade. Good illustrations and different way to tell a story.
March 23, 2011
When an octopus climbs up an anchor line and into a fisherman’s basket, it causes all sorts of chaos. The octopus is flung onto the head of someone cleaning the street and from there is chased through a window. Taking refuge in a pitcher of water, the octopus is discovered by a chef with a taste for octopus soup. A chase ensues, ending with the octopus hanging from the dock until it drops into the chef’s waiting soup pot. But don’t fret, there is yet another twist in this tale.
Mayer’s latest features vaudeville physical humor and a timeless story. The wordless story has more than enough humor to keep children giggling, enough tension to keep them wondering what will happen, and more than enough appeal for young readers.
Hand this to children too young to be reading yet who want a book they can “read” on their own. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Mayer’s latest features vaudeville physical humor and a timeless story. The wordless story has more than enough humor to keep children giggling, enough tension to keep them wondering what will happen, and more than enough appeal for young readers.
Hand this to children too young to be reading yet who want a book they can “read” on their own. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
August 22, 2011
One of the first picture books I fell in love with when becoming a children's librarian back in 1984, was discovering Mercer Mayer's A Boy, A Dog, and a Frog, his first book for children. It was wordless, but the rich, humorous, charming story came thro ugh in Mayer's brilliant artwork. I used the book often in those first years of being a practicing librarian and shared it as often as I could with any child or parent who'd listen.
Now, in his latest book, Mr. Mayer returns to his beginningswith an equally humorous, charming, wry tale of a young octopus setting out from home and climbing into the adventure of his life.
A great book for the blossoming storyteller or novelist in your life and a great read for anyone who enjoys a funny, touching tale of "delicious" adventure.
Now, in his latest book, Mr. Mayer returns to his beginningswith an equally humorous, charming, wry tale of a young octopus setting out from home and climbing into the adventure of his life.
A great book for the blossoming storyteller or novelist in your life and a great read for anyone who enjoys a funny, touching tale of "delicious" adventure.
September 8, 2012
4 stars
A young octopus embarks on an accidental adventure by climbing up an anchor and into a fisherman’s boat. Unfortunately, the little octopus ends up in a restaurant, and as the title indicates, is about to be served as soup. The plot is delightfully original and Mercer Meyer does a terrific job with the illustrations.
This story is a wordless picture-book for the most part. There are a few words in the illustrations which may entice a beginning reader to ask for more information. One sign in particular, which says “No fishing today” may hinder the ability of a non-reader to completely follow the storyline without help. However, this is a great opportunity to teach inference through the illustrations.
A young octopus embarks on an accidental adventure by climbing up an anchor and into a fisherman’s boat. Unfortunately, the little octopus ends up in a restaurant, and as the title indicates, is about to be served as soup. The plot is delightfully original and Mercer Meyer does a terrific job with the illustrations.
This story is a wordless picture-book for the most part. There are a few words in the illustrations which may entice a beginning reader to ask for more information. One sign in particular, which says “No fishing today” may hinder the ability of a non-reader to completely follow the storyline without help. However, this is a great opportunity to teach inference through the illustrations.
December 26, 2012
A rare wordless treasure. This book tells the story of an octopus destined to land in the pot of a walrus chef's soup.
I'm not entirely sure if I'm supposed to come to believe through this book that vegetarianism is the way to go - or if an agenda was absent. I for one was rooting for the chef and not the octopus the entire time. Octopus, after all, is delicious.
And agenda or no, the story was entertaining, the panels well drawn, and the artwork burst with colors. Occasionally I worry how much of children's books kids actually get, because of disproportionately difficult vocabulary, but you needn't fear with this book. Kids will get every word.
Recommend.
I'm not entirely sure if I'm supposed to come to believe through this book that vegetarianism is the way to go - or if an agenda was absent. I for one was rooting for the chef and not the octopus the entire time. Octopus, after all, is delicious.
And agenda or no, the story was entertaining, the panels well drawn, and the artwork burst with colors. Occasionally I worry how much of children's books kids actually get, because of disproportionately difficult vocabulary, but you needn't fear with this book. Kids will get every word.
Recommend.
March 21, 2011
A young octupus ends up on an adventure that takes him from his home in the ocean to a dock, a restaurant, a street market, and eventually back home to the safety of his family. This wordless picture book required a second reading for me because I had obviously missed something in the beginning, but on a second look - I found that I really liked how Mercer Mayer pulled the whole story together through wonderfully bright and quirky illustrations and little to no words (there is a sign and the cover of a newspaper at the end).
April 30, 2012
It is a picture book without words so children can use their own imaginations on what could the characters be saying or explain what is going on in each illustration. It is about an octopus who climbed onto a fishing boat and the fisherman did not realize this until after he is back on shore. The octopus runs into a lot of trouble, especially after he ran into a cook that wanted to cook him for a soup. Bright and colorful illustrations. Recommended for early readers, k-2nd grade. Published 2011.
April 24, 2011
Oh, curious babies and kids can be, even those that come from the sea. Baby octopus is very curious about a fisherman's line, in which he climbs and onto the fisherman's boat. Little does Baby Octopus know that he is in for a very scary adventure. Mayer tells this story in graphic format with no words, but kids will enjoy making up their own story as the pictures progress. The texture and bright colors add to the excitment of Baby Octopus' adventure back to the sea.
July 23, 2011
Funny wordless book done in comic book style of a little octopus that runs away from home. Life on his own is not anything like he imagined it would be. Little octopus had the misfortune of ending up at a seafood restaurant and wound up looking more like the gingerbread man trying to escape from a pack of people who might like to try octopus soup for lunch.
September 27, 2011
Mercer Mayer is back with a nearly wordless picture book in the vein of Frog Goes to Dinner. I don't know that the cover illustration is terribly inviting, but the inside illustrations are gorgeous and funny, and both the humor and plot are clear throughout. This is one I would enjoy sharing one-on-one with a child.
October 2, 2012
This is a book written by Mercer Mayer, which is the author of A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog. Octopus Soup is more like a wordless comic book. It has 2-5 pictures on each page which is much more than a regular wordless picture book, so it gives the reader a more definite meaning of the story. the book is very colorful and the illustrations are very detailed.
January 13, 2012
There are no words in Octopus Soup. I have fun encouraging my son to describe what is happening in the pictures. He is tickled by the adventures of this unfortunate octopus and proud to be able to discover the story on his own.
November 12, 2012
This is such a fun graphic picture book for children. I love how the pictures can tell the story so well without even needing words! This is a great tool to get students to use critical thinking, and would be fun as a class activity to make up our own text to go along with the pictures!
August 15, 2014
There's no place like home! That might be in this fun PB if there were words. Instead, master Mercer Mayer tells the story of a baby octopus who leaves home and runs into all sorts of trouble with just drawings. I know two 5-year-olds who absolutely love this book!
July 11, 2011
Wordless book. Interesting pictures. My 5 year old son loved it.
Currently reading
May 22, 2012i can not wait too read this book.
December 5, 2017
1. This book has received no awards.
2. This book is appropriate for 1st-3rd grade.
3. A young octopus is tired of being at home with his parents and decides to take an adventure. Throughout the book, he encounters many obstacles such as almost being used as bate when he hides in a tackle box, and almost being cooked into soup by a chef! Finally, he makes it home by nearly escaping death and gives his mom a big octopus hug.
4. I thought that this book was very creative and brought in a lot of real world references. The graphics were humorous and detailed which I like to see in books. Overall, I thought the plot line of the book kept the reader interested and on the edge of their seat the whole time.
5. Two in-class uses for the book:
-Encourage the students to create their own detailed adventures of the young octopus.
-Talk about different cultures and how some cultures enjoy octopus and that it can be considered a delicacy.
2. This book is appropriate for 1st-3rd grade.
3. A young octopus is tired of being at home with his parents and decides to take an adventure. Throughout the book, he encounters many obstacles such as almost being used as bate when he hides in a tackle box, and almost being cooked into soup by a chef! Finally, he makes it home by nearly escaping death and gives his mom a big octopus hug.
4. I thought that this book was very creative and brought in a lot of real world references. The graphics were humorous and detailed which I like to see in books. Overall, I thought the plot line of the book kept the reader interested and on the edge of their seat the whole time.
5. Two in-class uses for the book:
-Encourage the students to create their own detailed adventures of the young octopus.
-Talk about different cultures and how some cultures enjoy octopus and that it can be considered a delicacy.
September 26, 2019
That was a fun romp!
Mercer Mayer is such a talented artist!
This book is dialog-free. The only words are on signs and such. The story is presented in a series of panels.
There are tons of tiny details in the background, so keep your eyes open!
Mercer Mayer is such a talented artist!
This book is dialog-free. The only words are on signs and such. The story is presented in a series of panels.
There are tons of tiny details in the background, so keep your eyes open!
July 18, 2020
Very cool book. Wordless but the illustrations says all that’s required!
Great illustrations
Great illustrations
September 25, 2020
Nice
My son fell asleep after listening to this story. Such a colourful book good story plot. I liked it very much
My son fell asleep after listening to this story. Such a colourful book good story plot. I liked it very much
January 13, 2021
great illustrations, what fun, so colorful and fun ... so eye appealing. i would think this would be a fun one to read over and over.
September 30, 2021
Wordless fun!
December 7, 2016
The illustrations are great. But the book actually made me really sad. The octopus leaves home and is going on a little adventure and accidentally ends up being caught for soup! He escapes many times, only to have the chef chasing after him until he gets back to the water! He is saved by the fact that there is no fishing allowed on this particular day. The last page is a picture of the octopus reunited with his parents, who are sobbing, and the little octopus looking very distraught. It made me really sad!
December 22, 2012
Adorable story without words - I love those because they really spark the imagination of the kids. This one features a young octopus who leaves home and has an adventure that includes stowing away in a tackle box, visiting a restaurant, hiding in melons and finally, making his way back home to the safety and love of his worried parents. Lots of lovely illustrations and lots of side action with sign waving bunnies, goldfish and frogs, (to name only a few,) will keep little readers engaged time after time.
July 16, 2011
Okay, so my kids love Mercer Mayer and he can do no wrong. Not even when creating a wordless title that shows a baby octopus coming dangerously close to becoming soup!! This book will thrill kids who enjoy graphic novel format but are limited on their ability to read words. Detail of the illustrations will allow a child to pour over the pages again and again---still seeing something new to them every reading.
Read
April 24, 2020As an adult it is predictable, but that's okay. Octopus Soup is still fun to read! That it is a wordless story told in comics-style panels makes it slow going - not because it bogs down the story, but because I wanted to read the adult-oriented double entendre and wordplay built into the graphics. There is something for readers of all abilities in this story.
October 17, 2011
I really wish we hadn't found this book til later in our reading adventures. Since it is pictures only, I am to interpret the story blocks and I *guess* I do a really great job of it because this is the book my kid wants to pick up even outside of bedtime story time for mommy to "read" to her. I look forward to having her find the story on her own for the next books by this author!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews