Behold the Octopus! - by Suzanne Slade

Book Synopsis

Lyrical text and gorgeous illustrations plunge readers into an undersea exploration of the mysterious, accomplished octopus and its astonishing abilities.

Behold the octopus! This remarkable animal hides beneath the seas, so you may not realize that it is one of the most incredible, talented creatures on our planet.

Fortunately, this nonfiction picture book from an award-winning team reveals the fascinating features of the glorious octopus, such as lights that attract prey, legs that walk on land, and the ability to change color and shape to match their surroundings and even masquerade as other animals.

The sparse, narrative text is perfect for curious picture book readers looking to learn, while sidebars and back matter share additional interesting details.

A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book!
A Chicago Public Library 'Best of the Best' Book
A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year - Outstanding Merit

Review Quotes

★ "Via stunningly realistic pastel, colored pencil, and airbrush artwork, Gonzalez presents a series of colorful octopus portraits. . . . Slade uses simple, vivid language, supplying single words to observe a particular facet of octopus life. . . Octopus fans will be thrilled . . . and new enthusiasts will find inspiration in this accessible, fact-rich volume."--Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

★ "[An] absolute treat of a nonfiction picture book. . . . Gonzalez's photorealistic art is breathtaking. . . ."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review

"Accessible and informative. . . . Gonzalez's remarkably large and lifelike illustrations [fill] each page. . . ."--Booklist

"This is a visually stunning nonfiction book that introduces young readers to the short but adventure-filled life of the octopus."--School Library Journal

"An admirable, admiring introduction to an intriguing species."--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Suzanne Slade, a Sibert Honor-winning author, has written over one hundred and fifty children's books. An engineer by degree, she is acclaimed for her expertise in STEAM topics, as well as explorations of inspiring figures in history. A popular speaker, she visits dozens of schools every year and has been invited to speak at numerous conferences such as ALA, IRA, ISLMA, NSTA, as well as the National Book Festival. Suzanne's books are enjoyed by readers around the world and also in space! Her picture book Astronaut Annie was read aboard the International Space Station for Story Time from Space.

Thomas Gonzalez is an illustrator, designer, and portrait artist. A native of Cuba, he came to the United States when he was ten years old. He studied at the Atlanta School of Art (now called Savannah of Art and Design). After working at the Coca-Cola Company for more than twenty years, Tom held several creative positions with other global brands. He has illustrated many picture books, including the New York Times best-seller 14 Cows for America.