I Am Not an Octopus

4.3

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Author(s)

Eoin McLaughlin

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Marc Boutavant

Publisher

Candlewick Press

Genre(s)

Picture Book

Age Range

Release Date

February 21, 2023

ISBN

978-1536225051

Buy This Book

Can a scaredy octopus in denial embrace his true identity? A goofy octopod finally dares to take the plunge—and dip his tentacles into the water he fears.

Terry is definitely not an octopus. He’s just a regular guy who happens to have a few extra limbs and a love of canned tuna. But again, he is NOT an octopus. If he were an octopus, he’d be living in the ocean, right? Not to mention going to Super Octopus Fantasea Adventure World. He definitely wouldn't be on land, unless he was afraid of the water. Which he absolutely isn’t! OK, maybe, just maybe, it’s time he learned how to swim? Kids will smile at this very silly story about being brave, facing your fears, and accepting who you really are.

Editor review

1 review

cute and silly picture book

March 19, 2023

Overall rating

4.3

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

I AM NOT AN OCTOPUS is a silly picture book about embracing yourself and facing your fears. Terry is not an octopus, because octopuses live in the water. As the reader soon learns, he is afraid of water because he cannot swim, and so he cannot visit his octopus parents or friends or go to the undersea amusement park. He is ready to change that and learn how to swim. Once he learns, he admits that he is an octopus and goes to the ocean to do all the things he has missed.

What I loved: This is a cute book that is sure to make children giggle. The ultimate messages are of embracing yourself as you are and facing your fears, which Terry does by learning to swim and thus being able to join his family and friends in the ocean. These are powerful for little ones who will get them through a story which infuses a lot of humor along the way. The juxtaposition of a clear octopus with claiming not to be one plus jokes (like asking if he can pee in the water) will definitely appeal to preschoolers and young elementary school readers.

The text is simple and straight-forward which will work well for young readers who will also appreciate the quickly turning pages. The illustrations are colorful and capture the story well with the adorable and expressive Terry appearing throughout.

Final verdict: I AM NOT AN OCTOPUS is a silly and cute picture book about facing your fears and embracing yourself as you are that is sure to make young children giggle.