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3rd out of 72 books
—
77 voters
Squid and Octopus Friends for Always
by
Tao Nyeu
Afriend for always is someone who... knows how to cheer you up when you're feeling droopy, usually sees things your way, and never lets a quarrel get out of hand. As you'll see in these endearing, silly stories, a friend for always is the very best thing in the deep blue sea.
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
June 28th 2012
by Dial Books for Young Readers
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I judged this book by it's cover and was convinced it would be adorable. I was right!
The book consists of four very short stories about best friends, Squid and Octopus. In "The Quarrel," the two have a disagreement over winter apparel, but come up with a mutually satisfying solution after asking Wise Old Turtle to settle their differences. In "The Dream," Squid wakes up from an amazing dream feeling sad and ordinary back in real life, and Octopus takes it upon himself to make Squid feel special...more
The book consists of four very short stories about best friends, Squid and Octopus. In "The Quarrel," the two have a disagreement over winter apparel, but come up with a mutually satisfying solution after asking Wise Old Turtle to settle their differences. In "The Dream," Squid wakes up from an amazing dream feeling sad and ordinary back in real life, and Octopus takes it upon himself to make Squid feel special...more
Squid and Octopus is a wonderful picture book. It is actually four stories in one. In The Quarrel, Squid and Octopus fight over whether socks or mittens are better and end up choosing both. In The Dream, Squid dreams he is a super squid and Octopus convinces him he doesn't need powers to be super. In The Hat, Octopus finds a boot and decides it is a hat but everyone else tells him it is something else. Then Squid appears with the other boot and he has it as a hat as well. In The Fortune Cookie,...more
Very cute story for young readers. There are several mini-"chapters" in this story, each a new story in Squid and Octopus' friendship. As we were reading this story, my daughter asked what was a difference between a squid and octopus, so we looked it up, using several sources from the internet then used that new knowledge as we read the book! Of course, she later pointed out that we could have figured it out because they always wear the same colored hat to help us know who-was-who....
This book w...more
This book w...more
Another one that’s too visually-intense for my story time, but absolutely adorable nonetheless. Octopus and Squid—BEST FRIENDS FOREVER—bumble around having various deep sea adventures, eating fortune cookies, giving each other hugs, and using boots as fashion accessories.
Squid is a bit of a philanthropist, knitting cozies for Hermit Crab and his family after they lost their shells.
Octopus is an artist, currently in the process of carving a giant statue of Noble Roman Lobster out of stone.
Also,...more
Squid is a bit of a philanthropist, knitting cozies for Hermit Crab and his family after they lost their shells.
Octopus is an artist, currently in the process of carving a giant statue of Noble Roman Lobster out of stone.
Also,...more
I read picture books because it's always nice to have a few titles in your head when an adult rushes into the library at 4:55 looking for something to read to her kids/class/brownie troop.
Admittedly, Squid and Octopus wouldn't make a very good storytime book, it's designed to be read to one or two kids as the pictures are smaller and there's a fair bit of additional dialogue separate from the story's overall narration.
We follow Squid and Octopus, the titular BFFs, as they navigate great crisis l...more
Admittedly, Squid and Octopus wouldn't make a very good storytime book, it's designed to be read to one or two kids as the pictures are smaller and there's a fair bit of additional dialogue separate from the story's overall narration.
We follow Squid and Octopus, the titular BFFs, as they navigate great crisis l...more
Tao Nyeu's work is charming and whimsical and her newest picturebook is no exception. Like Mo Willems' Amanda and her Alligator, Squid and Octopus Friends for Always is a beginning reader-influenced pictureboook with short chapters. Squid and Octopus are best friends who support one another in spite of their many differences. This adorable duo (yes, a knitting squid is perfectly adorable) engages in normal activities that seem like new adventures when played out under the sea. The illustrations...more
Squid and Octopus are two very good friends. Although they don't agree on everything (Squid likes socks while Octopus likes mittens). In these four short stories readers will become friends with two adorable eight-legged creaters.
I really like this book. I love the orange and blue and green colors. I love Squid and Octopus. I love that Squid knits hats and socks and organizes tickle Mondays. (Don't you wish you could tickle a sea creature every Monday?) And I love that Octopus does photography...more
I really like this book. I love the orange and blue and green colors. I love Squid and Octopus. I love that Squid knits hats and socks and organizes tickle Mondays. (Don't you wish you could tickle a sea creature every Monday?) And I love that Octopus does photography...more
Words cannot adequately describe how much I am in love with this new picture book about best friends Squid and Octopus. Is it because the stories are about sea creatures (I especially like squid and his knit hat)? Is it because the illustrations are charming and in colors I adore? (It was original artwork from this book that tempted me to nearly-heedless bidding at a children's art auction at Book Expo America.) Is it because there are four different stories in the book? (And that one story invo...more
This picture book would be entertaining without any story (consider the multiple arms/legs of a squid/octopus all together in the same place…entangling!!!) There are four ‘mini-stories’ in this book, The Quarrel, The Dream, The Hat, and The Fortune Cookie – none of which are quite the same as the title, taking their young audience on some adventures under the sea.
The pictures are at times complex, and yet the characters are so simple, and the unusual orange, off white and blue green colors are d...more
The pictures are at times complex, and yet the characters are so simple, and the unusual orange, off white and blue green colors are d...more
This is the cephalopod version of "Frog & Toad." Includes several chapters/stories about a Squid and an Octopus (who are friends) and their adventures. The stories aren't particularly amazing (were they randomly generated?), nor necessarily cohesive. Very cute illustrations. Tao Nyeu is also the author of "Bunny Days," which was a bit silly, but featured bunnies ('nuff said).
Excerpt:
"...any squid who can do all that is a Super Squid!" declared Octopus.
Squid suddenly felt super from head to...more
Excerpt:
"...any squid who can do all that is a Super Squid!" declared Octopus.
Squid suddenly felt super from head to...more
In a series of 4 stories, readers learn about Squid and Octopus's friendship. Sometimes they argue, sometimes they have adventures together, sometimes they try something new. The charming, intricate illustrations are a wonderful complement to the easy rhythm of the stories. I also loved the dialog that various animals and friends lend to the story.
Recommended for grades 1 - 3. Like Mo Willems' Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator!, the delightful humor isn't quite accessible for my kindergarten...more
Recommended for grades 1 - 3. Like Mo Willems' Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator!, the delightful humor isn't quite accessible for my kindergarten...more
In a series of four short stories and silkscreened illustrations of sea life, this picture book follows the adventures of two friends, Squid and Octopus. Even though they sometimes don't agree, they are always there for each other in the end. My favorite story is "The Hat" in which Octopus spies a boot floating through the water and decides that it's a hat. But after he puts it on, the others in the sea tell him he's using it in the wrong way: It's a flowerpot, a soup bowl, even a doorstop. In s...more
Review:This picture book is divided into 4 chapters. I see this book as a great way to introduce beginning readers to this format without overwhelming them. The stories in the book are sweet and kind, as well as the pictures too. Tao Nyeu's words and pictures brilliantly bring forth the silly, outgoing characters, whether they're quarreling about wearing mittens and gloves or wearing truly funky headgear. I think any kid would be interested in this book because it does not lean towards princesse...more
Read my full review at The Cath in the Hat.
Tao Nyeu presents four short stories in her latest picture book about two BFFs, or make that FFAs (Friends for Always). The writer-illustrator creates a whimsical world for the friends to inhabit. Her silkscreen illustrations, in subdued pastel hues, are intricate and full of surprises. Readers will pour over the witty details and asides, such as a pair of lobsters gossiping over bowls of soup. ("So I heard Lucy molted the other day." "You don't say!")
S...more
Tao Nyeu presents four short stories in her latest picture book about two BFFs, or make that FFAs (Friends for Always). The writer-illustrator creates a whimsical world for the friends to inhabit. Her silkscreen illustrations, in subdued pastel hues, are intricate and full of surprises. Readers will pour over the witty details and asides, such as a pair of lobsters gossiping over bowls of soup. ("So I heard Lucy molted the other day." "You don't say!")
S...more
Somehow this didn't "gel" for me story-wise as much as her previous books, but I still love Tao Nyeu's color palette and whimsy, and the soft look of using blue for outlines instead of black. When I saw the gorgeous orange-and-blue two-page spread of the whale, I marveled that she had started using a rainbow roll technique like a silkscreener. But a little Googling and inspection of the CIP page ("The artwork was silkscreened using water-based ink and a colored pencil") reveals that this book AN...more
This book seemed like it was written for me! All my favorite colors (orange, green, blue/turquoise), quirky critters as the main characters all gussied up in hip styles.
What went wrong? The overall effect was way too twee for me, although I can't seem to identify what pushed it over the edge. Also, although I LOVE minor repeated characters usually (like the starfish and little fish), they seemed more distracting than fun in this book. The art in and of itself, though, is fantastic. I'd absolutel...more
What went wrong? The overall effect was way too twee for me, although I can't seem to identify what pushed it over the edge. Also, although I LOVE minor repeated characters usually (like the starfish and little fish), they seemed more distracting than fun in this book. The art in and of itself, though, is fantastic. I'd absolutel...more
Squid and Octopus are "squee" adorable.
The 4 stories seem a little bland and scattered to me, but probably not to a young kid. Covers a bit of everything, from mittens & socks to self-esteem to repurposing & imagination to destiny.
P.S. The patterns and colors are worthy of Amy Butler home decor or urban chic wedding invitations (complete with a fully mustached fish.)
P.P.S. I will not be participating in Tickle Mondays.
Favorite Quote
A splendid exchange of socks and mittens followed.
The 4 stories seem a little bland and scattered to me, but probably not to a young kid. Covers a bit of everything, from mittens & socks to self-esteem to repurposing & imagination to destiny.
P.S. The patterns and colors are worthy of Amy Butler home decor or urban chic wedding invitations (complete with a fully mustached fish.)
P.P.S. I will not be participating in Tickle Mondays.
Favorite Quote
A splendid exchange of socks and mittens followed.
I absolutely adored this picture book! It was like someone took my love of cephalopods and decided to create a version of Arnold Lobel's "Frog and Toad" books but with Squid and Octopus as the main characters, and with better, more creative illustrations. My only gripe is that it was a bit long for my son, perhaps they could've divided into two books with two stories each instead of four. The first story was about a quarrel that Squid has with Octopus about whether they should wear mittens or so...more
In a series of short stories, the friendship of Squid and Octopus is revealed. Together at the bottom of the sea, they have a several cheery adventures. In the first story, the two get into a fight over whether mittens or socks should be worn when the weather gets cold. It turns out that both do a great job of keeping you warm and an even better one when shared. The second story focuses on a dream that Squid had that gave him super powers! The only bad thing is that he’s sad now that he’s awake...more
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LOVE these four little stories; reminds me a bit of Frog and Toad. Squid and Octopus each have distinct personalities and sometimes quarrel, but see past it and support each other in the ways that Forever Friends do. I picked it up for Squid who knits, got hooked into the gorgeous illustrations colored in a lovely aquatic color pallet, and stayed for the delightful stories and to see what they would get up to next! More please!
Happily for this reader, Tao Nyeu's water-based silkscreens in orange, aqua, green, and yellow owe a lot to Richard Scarry. There are asides, visual jokes, and more than anything an overwhelming sense of joy and connection in these 4 short stories. As the back of the book says, "Life is full of fun when you share it with a friend." Check out some of the art here: http://www.taonyeu.com/v2/projects/sq....
Cute early chapter book in picture book size. The book is four chapters of squid and octopus' friendship. They have a fight, a dam, mistake a cowboy boot for a hat, and worry over cracking open a fortune cookie in the chapters. The illustrations are colorful and full of blues, greens, and golds. There is so much detail In the pictures that children will enjoy looking at the pictures as much as listen to the story.
A friendship book a la George and Martha, but perhaps as they are Octopus & Squid (& lack names?), they don't seem to have the same heft. That said, the stories are charming, the limited palette illustrations are expressive (especially the asides from the starfish & hermit crabs), and I will buy & recommend it for my library. I must also note that there is particular appeal in these stories for those of us who knit.
I love Nyeu's book WONDERBEAR, so we picked this up last weekend. 4 stories in one book, it's structure is similar to Lobel's Frog and Toad series', except these BFFs are under the sea and are fully tentacled. I can't say enough about how endearing the illustrations are and the stories are just adorable. A squid who knits?? I mean, come on! Miles loves this too and we have been reading it a lot lately.
"Squid and Octopus Friends for Always" is a charming book about these two best friends. They argue about some very silly things, but always find a way to cheer each other up through bad times.
This book is suitable for children 3 and up.
It's a great book that teaches about friendship.
It would be good for a very basic lesson about some sea life or about the importance of friendship. Could do a writing activity explaining who their best friend is.
This book is suitable for children 3 and up.
It's a great book that teaches about friendship.
It would be good for a very basic lesson about some sea life or about the importance of friendship. Could do a writing activity explaining who their best friend is.
I enjoyed the stories, they are appropriate for younger audience read alouds (by reading the main text of the story) and also for older elementary who can read all of the text, including the side conversations. Adorable illustrations and likeable characters. Cute stories. Good for children who are bridging the gap between picture books and chapter books it has 4 stories in one book.
This magnificent picture book contains four stories of friendship. My favorites were The Quarrell and The Hat, but they were all great. The illustrations are colorful but have a lot of white space and mostly blue,green, and yellow colors. Any of these stories would make excellent tell-without-book tales for storytime. It might be good to pick one or two instead of trying to do the whole book at once.
A collection of short stories about friends Squid and Octopus. My favorite story is the last one about fortune cookies and all the cryptic messages that could await the person who dares open one. The other stories denter around a silly quarrel, an unusual hat, and a series of dreams. Great artwork. The color palette is warm and evokes the feel of old-timey artwork. Must read/see.
A sweet story of friendship betwwen a squid and an octopus. Four stories in one book. I love the illustrations. I find it unique, soft and artistic. The characters in the illustrations (who are not mentioned in the text) act like side-kicks and adds to the gentle humor. I see this book as a classic that will keep for generations. This would make a great gift.
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