The Boy and the Octopus

by Caryl Lewis

A magical tale of finding your voice and becoming yourself.

Stanley loves his octopus toy, and dreams of the magical way its skin changes colour; how it hides itself when something scary comes along. In fact, sometimes Stanley wants to be like his octopus and disappear.

But Stanley learns how to share his feelings in more than words, and to face difficulties through the power of self-expression and creativity.

A lyrical and emotional story about overcoming bullies and being proud to be seen by the creators of The Boy Who Dreamed Dragons.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

Published July 4, 2024

About the author

Caryl Lewis is an award winning Welsh language novelist. She was raised in Aberaeron before moving at the age of twelve to her family's farm in the parish of Dihewyd. She is an alumnus of Durham University and University of Wales Aberystwyth. Her first novel, Dal hi!, was published in 2003.

Reviews

[Veera]

Kaunis kuvitus. Tarina jää kuitenkin ihan himpun verran vajaaksi, eikä kiusaamista selvitetä mielestäni kunnolla.

[Laetitia]

"Certains enfants aiment se blottir auprès de leur ours en peluche, d'autres aiment dormir avec leurs dinosaure. Mais Gabriel, lui, aimait sa...pieuvre"
Il adorait passer du temps avec elle car elle le protégeait des dangers lors de leurs jeux imaginaires. Sauf qu'à l'extérieur, sa pieuvre ne pouvait pas le protéger des moqueries absurdes des autres garçons.

Lorsque le papa de Gabriel, s’apercevant du mal-être de son enfant, l'interroge à ce sujet, Gabriel ne trouve pas les mots. C'est auprès de sa pieuvre qu'il revit en rêve la situation difficile et qu'il réussit à la dépasser. Au réveil, il trouve un moyen d'exprimer ses sentiments autrement que par les mots : grâce aux dessins. C'est ainsi que son papa comprend la source du malaise et peut lui apporter son aide.

Voici un bel album pour aborder les thèmes du harcèlement, de l'imaginaire et de l'importance de s'exprimer (et pas nécessairement avec des mots !). Mon fils de 5 ans l'apprécie beaucoup. Il aime les illustrations très colorés, attractives et riches en détails. De mon côté, j'ai aimé les messages véhiculés autour de l'imagination, de la communication et de la confiance en soi.

[Rebecca R]

Stanley loves to sleep with his toy octopus - it makes him feel safe. He also loves the way an octopus can camouflage himself to disappear, and he wishes he could do the same because he’s really shy and finds it difficult to speak up for himself. But the octopus also shoots ink when it is threatened and so Stanley learns to express himself with words and images and to speak up rather than disappear.

‘The Boy and the Octopus’ is an empowering and thought-provoking picture book, perfect for KS1. It is also beautifully and vibrantly illustrated - this really is a gorgeous book!

[Joey-Susan]

Very very sweet story. A little boy loves going on nightime adventures under the sea with his octopus plushie friend, seeing the wonders down below. But in the real world he’s shy and struggles to speak up for himself. In his dream after being bullied one day he learns a creative way to express himself and share what happened with his dad.

Adorable the illustrations were so sweet to look at, seeing the little boys dreams coming alive as he and his octopus were exploring, as they discovers all the things that his octopus could do that he wished he could do. It was really sweet and magical, I loved the connection the boy had with his octopus, it was so precious.

I also loved how this book offered a great help to other children, especially those that are being bullied themselves, or are too shy and scared to speak up, or that live inside their own minds, or even that don’t really know or can’t verbally communicate. It gave a great lesson on another creative way you can share what is happening to you, to help tell the grown up you trust around you, It shows that they’ll help you.

This was a really sweet book, full of imagination, heart and love between a boy and his best plushie friend. I loved reading this story even though it was certainly sad in places, it was really well made and lovely.

[Kay]

It was a beautiful read about a little boy who is bullied for being shy & who loves his octopus for many reasons.
The same octopus who comforts the boy when he dreams & is adored by him for his ability to camouflage whenever there is trouble teaches the boy confidence to be seen & express himself, painting the bullies spiky laughter, even when the boy cannot find words.
It's a beautifully illustrated & reassuring read.

[Neo]

Upea kuvitus! Päähenkilöllä kiusaajia, joista on vaikea kertoa isälle. Onneksi mustekala auttaa.

[gem_reads_]

a beautiful picture book with stunning illustrations and a lovely message about overcoming bullies

[Miia]

Osuu ja uppoaa kyllä sellaiseen aikuiseenkin, joka on lapsena oppinut olemaan näkymätön toisten käytöksen takia.

[Tapani Aulu]

Hienot kuvat ja oikein lämmin tarina pojan turvamustekalasta.