Could an Octopus Climb a Skyscraper?: Hilarious scenes bring octopus facts to life!

by Camilla de la Bédoyère, Aleksei Bitskoff (Illustrations)

Could An Octopus Climb A Skyscraper provides a fun introduction into the life of an octopus. By imagining animals in everyday scenarios readers can learn about their size, diet and other features. For example, what if an octopus went to a fancy dress party? She wouldn't need to shop for a costume as under the sea an octopus can pretend to be a snake, a rock, or even a fish! The engaging question and answer format will keep young readers entertained and help them to understand and retain animal facts.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Science, Nonfiction

24 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2015

About the author

A background in science, education and journalism has been the perfect foundation for author Camilla de la Bedoyere. She studied zoology and geology at Bristol University, and has subsequently written or edited more than 200 books for children and adults, many of which aim to explain and explore the natural world and our relationship with it.

Reviews

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable nonfiction picture book which imparts facts about the octopus by imagining how she would cope in the human world. Truth and creativity mix together for a humorous yet accurate portrayal of the octopus' abilities and characteristics. The text is very large for small eyes and the illustrations are cute. The book ends with a "Fact File" gathering the information learned, a map showing the range of habitat and a real photograph. This series would be a winner for libraries!!

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was perfect for my 8 year old. It taught her so much about octopuses through silly questions and cute drawings. Three separate times, she started to ask a question about the octopus, only to realize the answer to her question was on the next page. To be that much inside the mind of a child takes real talent on an author's part.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books and so do the girls. They present animal information in a fun form that is simple enough for them to read. The illustrations are beautifully done and the last page of the book has an actual picture to bring the animals to life.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too bad... it's humorous and informative and the illustrations were fun! Kids should enjoy reaing this!

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

True things about octopuses presented in silly ways, by imagining the octopus in a human/land environment instead of the ocean.

[Joy Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the fiction and facts are incorporated...cataloged as NF, so it may fall through the cracks...

[Lara Girgis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heh heh cute

[DiAnne Warfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holt-Delhi Preschool story time 06-14-2022

[Tapani Aulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tietokuvakirja lapsille tursaiden lukuisista erikoisista ominaisuuksista.

[Trudy Zufelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book at no charge from the publisher to facilitate my review on my blog, Boys To Books. This is the review as it originally appears.

Ask anybody how many arms an octopus has and you're bound to get the right answer. What if an octopus needed shoes for her arms? How many pairs would she need? Or what if an octopus was in danger and had to detach an arm? Would a new one grow back? Could An Octopus Climb a Skyscraper? puts an octopus into everyday scenarios while helping the reader learn facts such as shape, size, and other features. Did you know an octopus has three hearts? Neither did I but reading about it makes it's easy to remember.

While the question and answer format stimulate thought, the fun is in the illustrations. Be prepared for silliness times eight as the arms of the octopus get tangled in all sorts of tasks. A perfect combination of learning and laughter for the curious young reader. A solid recommendation.

[Roberta Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could an Octopus Climb a Skyscraper?: …and other questions by Camilla de la Bedoyere and illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff is a factual book dances on the edge of fiction with cartoon illustrations of funny situations. An octopus that can turn yellow and look like a banana? An octopus that washes a car? Hysterical! At its nonfiction core, however, the child will also learn many current facts about octopuses, such as they have three hearts and blue blood. The facts are repeated to reinforce learning in a “fact file” in the back.

Could an Octopus Climb a Skyscraper? is a perfect choice for reluctant readers, who will be able to relate to the comparisons between octopuses and humans. It will also be a good choice for budding marine biologists, and to accompany a trip to an aquarium.

See a full review and suggestions for related activities at Wrapped in Foil Blog.

[Lia (Roman) Rusu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cu ilustrații reușite și texte bine gândite, pagini aerisite și informații utile, cartea este o minunată prezentare succintă a trăsăturilor deosebite care recomandă caracatița ca vietate inteligentă, demnă de interesul și curiozitatea noastră.

Parcurgând cartea, copiii doresc să afle mai multe detalii și păstrează în suflet fascinația pentru creatura specială despre care au citit. Amănuntele anatomice și aspectele biologice sunt iscusit introduse în pasaje plăcute micilor cititori.

Nu lipsește nici umorul fin, nici ineditul aranjării în pagină, invitând la recitire.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could an Octopus Climb a Skyscraper? That question and others are answered in this book. While the information about octopuses is factual the questions and illustrations are more fanciful and silly. That makes the book perfect for sharing with younger children. I even learned some things that I didn't previously know, such as that octopuses have three hearts and blue blood. This is a series of books that I can heartily recommend, especially for young readers with endless questions.

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: COULD AN OCTOPUS CLIMB A SKYSCRAPER?: AND OTHER QUESTIONS- by Camilla De la Bedoyere


With delightful illustrations and clever anecdotes, this book brings children factual information about the Octopus species, inspiring learning through laughter. Even younger children will enjoy looking at the drawings while listening to the text. What a gentle way to introduce children to a study of biology!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids ask this very sort of crazy question! With a thought-process straight out of a kid's brain, funny bright cartoon type illustrations and a very satisfying amount of information, this is a high interest and unusual nonfiction book that is bound to attract and please young readers.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Horatiu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foarte draguta cartea.

[Irina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recomand cartea pentru prescolari. E amuzanta.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love how imagination and silliness are incorporated into science!