Book Title: Octopus Shocktopus (available here)
Author: Peter Bently
Illustrator: Steven Lenton
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Publication Date: July 2020
Most Suitable For: EYFS & KS1
Reviewed By: Caroline Waldron
‘One day we found an octopus had come to live on top of us.’ So begins Octopus Shocktopus, another brilliant picture book from Peter Bently, with bright, entertaining illustrations from Steven Lenton
One day, an octopus lands on top of a family’s house. Initially they’re not too sure that they like it, but then they realize that playing football with an octopus is great fun! And who knew that an octopus can also be a slide, can help in the garden and be used for rescuing teddy bears which get stuck down the toilet? Pretty soon everyone wants an octopus (apart from the village baker, Sid, who’d rather have a squid). But then, one day, the family wake up to find their octopus has gone. No-one knows where. They’re very sad and miss their new friend. Will he ever come back?
A beautifully illustrated picture book – bright, bold and colourful but with lots of lovely little details you may only notice on a second or third reading. Told entirely in rhyme, this is a funny, entertaining book which children of all ages (but especially Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1) will enjoy and one that encourages listeners to simply enjoy language and have fun anticipating rhyme. My six year old and I have already read it numerous times and will read it more times before I share it with the children at school to enjoy it all over again.
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You can order Octopus Shocktopus online or from an independent bookshop.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to our Review Panel member for reviewing it.
Where next?
> Visit our Reading for Pleasure Hub
> Browse our Topic Booklists
> View our printable year group booklists.
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