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Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2
An Octopus Is Amazing
An introduction to one of the curiosities of the sea--the multi-tentacled, highly intelligent octopus.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1990
2 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Lauber
157 books21 followersPatricia Lauber is the author of more than sixty-five books for young readers. Many of them are in the field of science, and their range reflects the diversity of her own interests - bats, dolphins, dogs, volcanoes, earthquakes, the ice ages, the Everglades, the planets, and earthworms.
Two of her books, SEEDS: POP STICK GLIDE and JOURNEY TO THE PLANETS, were nonfiction nominees for The American Book Award. She was the 1983 winner of The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for her overall contribution to children's nonfiction literature.
As well as writing books, Ms. Lauber has been editor of Junior Scholastic, editor-in-chief of Science World, and chief editor, science and mathematics, of The New Book of Knowledge.
A graduate of Wellesley College, she is married and lives in Connecticut. When not writing, she enjoys hiking, sailing, traveling, cooking, reading, and listening to music.
Two of her books, SEEDS: POP STICK GLIDE and JOURNEY TO THE PLANETS, were nonfiction nominees for The American Book Award. She was the 1983 winner of The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for her overall contribution to children's nonfiction literature.
As well as writing books, Ms. Lauber has been editor of Junior Scholastic, editor-in-chief of Science World, and chief editor, science and mathematics, of The New Book of Knowledge.
A graduate of Wellesley College, she is married and lives in Connecticut. When not writing, she enjoys hiking, sailing, traveling, cooking, reading, and listening to music.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 11, 2023
Now this was more what I was hoping for from a science read aloud. Lots of good information, and the section about octopus intelligence sparked a nice little rabbit trail, with some help from YouTube. I’m giving this a 4.5, since the artwork looks a bit more dated than timeless, but still a good homeschool book.
May 19, 2021
More of a three star for me, but it does have some good, basic information for the target audience and my kids asked for a reread (!) so bumping it to four stars.
August 5, 2012
Oh, darn it! I meant to read this one to my nephew, but it got mixed into my pile of books to return, so he didn't hear it! BAH! No insight into this book from a child's point of view in this review, I guess. Sorry!
I read An Octopus is Amazing, however, and I thought the story was well done. There were a lot of facts in here, a great many things that I didn't know, and the text was a good length. I believe that it was short enough that it may have kept the attention of my pre-school aged nephew (maybe), but I also think that it was dense enough with facts that younger elementary school aged kids could use this for a report about this creature.
While the text was good, I really thought the illustrations left quite a bit to be desired. They weren't bad, they just weren't that great, and they really needed to be. So many children's books have fantastic illustrations, and when you have text that is dense and full of information, I think you run the risk of losing the attention of the child. Good, rich text, accompanied by fantastic illustrations like in Desert Giant, or The Wolves Are Back can really help to hook a child and keep that little person engaged.
In the end, in some ways I wish I hadn't accidentally returned this to the library so my nephew could have heard it. On the other hand, I betcha I can find a better octopus book out there for him.
I read An Octopus is Amazing, however, and I thought the story was well done. There were a lot of facts in here, a great many things that I didn't know, and the text was a good length. I believe that it was short enough that it may have kept the attention of my pre-school aged nephew (maybe), but I also think that it was dense enough with facts that younger elementary school aged kids could use this for a report about this creature.
While the text was good, I really thought the illustrations left quite a bit to be desired. They weren't bad, they just weren't that great, and they really needed to be. So many children's books have fantastic illustrations, and when you have text that is dense and full of information, I think you run the risk of losing the attention of the child. Good, rich text, accompanied by fantastic illustrations like in Desert Giant, or The Wolves Are Back can really help to hook a child and keep that little person engaged.
In the end, in some ways I wish I hadn't accidentally returned this to the library so my nephew could have heard it. On the other hand, I betcha I can find a better octopus book out there for him.
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November 11, 2020Awards: none
Grade level: Pre K-2
Summary: This story brings you through the life of an octopus.
Review: This story is full of interesting facts about Octopus while creating an interesting story to read along to.
In class uses: One activity could be to teach children about other sea animals that live amongst octopus. Another could be to teach children about environmental and ocean protection.
Grade level: Pre K-2
Summary: This story brings you through the life of an octopus.
Review: This story is full of interesting facts about Octopus while creating an interesting story to read along to.
In class uses: One activity could be to teach children about other sea animals that live amongst octopus. Another could be to teach children about environmental and ocean protection.
March 3, 2026
Browsing books to give my friends' children as gifts since I won't gift anything I haven't first read myself.
You know what? Octopus are amazing! What a great non-fiction subject for children. And I've yet to meet a kid who doesn't love to visit an aquarium -- which makes location a non-issue, since aquariums are rather prevalent and also a common vacation destination activity even if one isn't located close by to home.
You know what? Octopus are amazing! What a great non-fiction subject for children. And I've yet to meet a kid who doesn't love to visit an aquarium -- which makes location a non-issue, since aquariums are rather prevalent and also a common vacation destination activity even if one isn't located close by to home.
January 11, 2019
Lots of colorful illustrations and a large font will appeal to beginning readers.
The only thing I've noticed that may not be completely accurate is the fact that the octopus uses to blow away the shells from its meals. In Sy Montgomery's book The Octopus Scientists, we learned that some octopuses stack their meal debris neatly.
The only thing I've noticed that may not be completely accurate is the fact that the octopus uses to blow away the shells from its meals. In Sy Montgomery's book The Octopus Scientists, we learned that some octopuses stack their meal debris neatly.
August 3, 2018
Super cute book for little kids about Octopus biology and life cycle. The illustrations show cartoon octopuses showing off what the text explains. I thought it was well written and a good basic book for octopus enthusiasts. I'd like to add it to my classroom library.
April 19, 2025
The amazing octopus is an intelligent problem solver. In this picture book, there is very interesting information about octopuses, including: they can quickly change colour to match their surroundings, they have 1920 suction cups on their arms, they can regrow alost arm. Nicely illustrated.
April 27, 2018
This book lists many and I mean many facts about octopuses. For the most part, the book is written just like any other book in paragraph form, but contains so much information. There are very neat drawings in this book as well that give it four stars.
August 15, 2018
Very good information and engaging illustrations. Great for kids who love animals. This book will teach them a lot about octopi.
September 9, 2020
An early elementary nonfiction book about octopuses including you and habitats.
January 19, 2016
This book was so amazing. I read it over 20 times due to the simple fact it was so awesome. This book gives off a very good vibe and it is very informative. The book taught me a lot about octopus and how they live. I highly recommend this book to any person who likes sea life and wants to learn more about it.
An octopus is clearly amazing. It has 8 tentacles, a big head, suction cup like things on each tentacle. What's not to be amazed by. It makes a den. It even makes them in trash cans. (Info from book, clearly a joke)
( this is clearly a joke but here is my review)
An octopus is clearly amazing. It has 8 tentacles, a big head, suction cup like things on each tentacle. What's not to be amazed by. It makes a den. It even makes them in trash cans. (Info from book, clearly a joke)
( this is clearly a joke but here is my review)
October 23, 2012
Awesome as always!!!!!! I love this series of books
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December 15, 2013AR Quiz No. 11778 EN Nonfiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 3.9 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 3.9 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP
August 28, 2015
Informative, presented in a simple way that a kid can understand. Not spectacular, but fine.
April 21, 2016
Great info presented in an easy to understand way!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews