Who loves octopuses? Please raise your eight arms!
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In this endearing and inventively-illustrated new book about first-day school jitters, a little girl is in charge of getting her octopus to school.
From the time the school’s announcement letter arrives…
to the last hug good-bye, this story will bring smiles, giggles, and maybe a tear (of the parental variety) at the end.
Octopus isn’t so sure about the whole school thing and proceeds to express himself through scientifically accurate behaviors, such as camouflage (recto page)…
using his suction cups to attach himself to things, inking when he’s nervous (equates to other nervous accidents a child might have), squeezing themselves into small spaces or moving through small apertures to hide, building a mound of items around themselves like a fort, and insisting on carrying all his stuffed animals, once he’s on his way to school. Well, maybe that last action isn’t scientifically accurate, LOL.
When they finally get to school, the classroom is filled with other little octopuses who are hiding and playing, too. Adorable octupled!! There’s a sweet interaction with the teacher that every parent who’s ever left a child at kindergarten will recognize…and the last page? Well, sniffle, you’ll have to read the book to see for yourself how the story ends.
PLUS, there’s back matter titled “Ten (mostly) True Facts About Octopuses” that provides accurate information and more than a few smiles.
A fabulous and funny book to read any time of the year, but it’s definitely required reading for that first day of school.
And did I mention the book has undies? Sorry about the glare, but the undies are glossy! It really makes the colors pop!
Activities:
Make an origami “jumping” octopus
Pair this book with Behold the Octopus!, a nonfiction picture book by Suzanne Slade, illus. by Thomas Gonzalez.
Make a list of all the worries your little octopus might have about the first day of school, and think how you can help relieve their anxiety (including reading this book!).
Pair this book with School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex, illus. by Christian Robinson.
Title: How to Get Your Octopus to School
Author: Becky Scharnhorst
Illustrator: Jaclyn Sinquett
Publisher: Flamingo Books, Penguin Random House, 2023
Ages: 3 – 8
Themes: octopuses, first day of school
For more perfect picture book recommendations, please visit Susanna Hill’s website.
Looks like another winner from Becky Scharnhorst! Is this a different illustrator than her previous books?
Yes, it is on both counts! I love Becky’s work, and I think Julia Patton was the a great choice to illustrate her first two. And I think Jaclyn Sinquett is exactly the right choice to illustrate this octopus escapade!
Yes! It was too early for my brain to do all that work. Thank you.
I hadn’t seen this one. It looks adorable. I love the informational fiction aspect of it and the back matter. And thanks for showing off the undie!! Great choice, Jillane. Thanks for the intro – I can’t wait to see it.
It is so sweet and fun. I think you’ll love it, Maria!
I think I’ve found the perfect starting-day-care book for my grandson and his scuba-loving Mama. Can’t wait to check it out!
Oh, it’s perfect, Patricia! Yay!
This looks like such a perfect book to read to kids just starting school. Or for kids to read to their dogs before going to obedience school. Or even a kid to read to a parent who is a teacher returning to school! Definitely adding to my TBR pile.
It is perfect for all of those instances, LOL.