Oscar the Octopus: A Book About the Months of the Year

by Matthew Van Fleet

From #1 New York Times bestselling novelty creator Matthew Van Fleet comes an exciting book that teaches little ones the months of the year!

Join Oscar as he introduces preschoolers to the months of the year, texture, colors, and fascinating sea creatures. The cleverly textured pages will tickle fingertips and funny bones while revealing clues to what Oscar will catch next from a shiny friend to a surprise pop-up ending!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Storytime

14 pages, Hardcover

First published August 26, 2014

About the author

Matthew Van Fleet's innovative books have been introducing children to basic concepts for over twenty years. His unique formats invite toddlers to touch, press, pull, lift and even sniff as they explore colors, shapes, numbers, letters, opposites and more. His books include the #1 New York Times bestsellers TAILS and DOG as well as the New York Times bestsellers CAT, ALPHABET, and HEADS.

Reviews

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the interaction in Matthew Van Fleet's books, and my granddaughter Jaylee had me read this to her at least 5 times yesterday. However, it really doesn't help kids key into the months of the year. It is more helpful to teach them about weird creatures like cuttlefish. Sooooo.....good book as long as you don't care about the months of the year concept!

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging for baby! Fun, weird (in a good way), and a great way to learn about months and sea creatures!

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...

OSCAR THE OCTOPUS  is an absolutely delightful journey through the months. There are a lot of elements (touch-and-feel, lift-the-flap, pop-up, etc.) combining perfectly in this story to make it a toddler book paradise. Each page features a month with weather descriptions and those of a sea creature which is found behind a flap AND with a touchable part. For instance, in March, Oscar the Octopus grabs/catches a shark with a scratchy tail, which is touchable and actually scratchy!

Toddlers will absolutely laugh at the structures they can touch. For example, young readers will find the sticky cuttlefish, which is actually quite sticky, quite comical. Not only does the book feature each of the months of the year, but it also has a bunch of sea creatures that children will love to identify and feel. With the added bonus of lift-the-flaps on each page and a pop-up image at the end, this book combines everything toddlers and preschoolers love in a book that is simply charming and fun.

What I loved: The whole concept of this book is just adorable. Oscar catches a new sea creature in each month- until December when he catches a cold and needs a tissue, so he lets everyone go! Toddlers will love exploring not only the hide-and-seek concept of the flaps but also with touch, as each sea creature has a limb or part that is textured (scratchy, slick, bumpy, furry, etc.). The text is also rhyming, which appeals to children and adds a lovely melody when read aloud. Combining that with the cartoonish and fun animals, and this book is certainly a win! Ideal for toddlers and preschoolers, this book will be quickly loved and enjoyed.

Final verdict: OSCAR THE OCTOPUS teaches about the months of the year in this masterful work which combines everything toddlers love into a comical and lyrical book. Highly recommend for any and all toddlers/preschoolers. Be prepared for lots of giggles and repeated reading of this charming book which is chock full of things to explore!

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

With snappy rhyming text and interactive pages that invite young readers to unfold flaps to discover new sea creatures and explore interesting textures with fingertips, this awesome picture book would be terrific to share with little children. Each month, Oscar catches a new animal: January the sea was covered in ice, when Oscar caught something orange and striped - fold down the flap to meet a lionfish. Not only would this be a fun way to learn the months of the year, but a terrific way to talk about writing descriptive words: February was freezing, with snow, sleet, and hail, when Oscar caught something with green, pebbly scales - young readers can touch the sea turtles leathery tail.

[Catriona Lovett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Read For Toddlers through Primary

I was surprised that my grandson selected what I thought was a book meant for younger kids when he fetched a book for bedtime. Even though it's a sturdy book which tots will definitely love, it will appeal to kids who will soon be reading to themselves at bedtime, too. The story is wonderful, but it's a book that delights the eye. The fold outs are so clever! We both enjoyed it very much.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is Oscar The Octopus: A Book About the Months of the Year by Matthew Van Fleet, an aquatic, interactive adventure for little bookworms.

Readers follow the mostly unseen – save for his tentacles – Oscar as he spends the year catching a menagerie of sea creatures (it’s never directly explained what he DOES with the creatures he captures, and eventually they are all released). With each page dedicated to a month of the year, a touch-and-feel element – along with the text – gives the reader a clue as to what creature Oscar has caught this time; a lift-the-flap and label reveals the various sea animals, such as lionfish, sea otters, sharks, cuttlefish and more. At last, when his year of fishing is done, Oscar feels a tickle in his nose. Letting loose a mighty sneeze, he releases his smiling collection of new friends back out into the sea.

Tons of fun. While the light story is a little confusing, and the subtitle a tad misleading (the subject matter has as much to do with sea animals, colors, and the touch-and-feel sensory elements as the months of the year), the final product is so much fun for little readers that it’s easily forgivable. JJ had an absolute blast feeling sticky cuttlefish tentacles and discovering furry penguin chicks, and begged to be read the story a second time the moment we finished – always a telling sign of how engaging a book is. Van Fleet’s illustrations strike a good balance between natural authenticity and cartoon appeal for each of the creatures, and the story is a brisk yet immensely entertaining read. A lovely addition to any curious young bookworm’s library, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each month of the year, Oscar the Octopus catches a different sea creature. Each is hinted at with a rhymed verse, and a lift-the-flap reveals and names the creature, while almost all have an appendage that is textured for a sensory element. A novelty, but a fun one. The cartoony illustrations are fun and cute, with lots of expression. The text is meh.

[Barbra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adorable little picture book teaches young readers about the months of the year. With dazzling pull-tabs they also discover some interesting and vibrant sea creatures. It also incorporates a fun way to also learn colors and experience different textures.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this for my niece as one of her favourite stuffed animals is an octopus, so naturally this is a perfect gift. The story is cute too so that is a bonus as I probably would have bought the book regardless.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A flap book with a new textured creature hiding within the octopus' arms for each of the months. In the end, the octopus catches a cold in December and ends up sneezing and letting all the other creatures go!

[Charlotte Pass · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun toy book for children, this text presents the months of the year and different creatures of the ocean simultaneously. As a touch and feel book, children will certainly enjoy the experience of reading this story.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This board book is interactive. Not only does it name the months of the year, but it also includes fun rhymes and creatively teaches kids about colors and textures through pop-up surprises. Definitely recommend for younger children!

[Michele Knott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A concept book that has pull-down flaps to reveal a surprise and has tactile things to feel - this book works for those who reside in a location that sees all four seasons.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oscar the Octopus provides preschoolers with an entertaining introduction to the months of the year, texture, colors, and a variety of sea creatures.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The months of the year, sea animals, different textures, flaps to lift. The book doesn't disappoint and was super fun for my toddler.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for this clever interactive book

[Christine Turner]

Lift-the-flap books -- Juvenile literature.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

8 appendages…. 12 months in a year…. Who thought this made sense?? Not sure if I’ll be keeping this gift.

[BLT Fraser]

Dates we read this book:

2024 - 10/6, 10/7, 12/28. 12/29 (4 times)
2025 - 1/7, 1/10. 1/12, 1/19, 1/27, 2/2, 2/6, 2/7, 6/18, 7/5, 7/8, 7/22, 9/8, 10/13, 11/10, 11/18 (16 times)

[mairead! · Rating 4 out of 5]

A's monthly book club sent her this -- she was snuggling and wowing at it right away. Didn't really sit through its first reading but I love the concept and the uniqueness. Plus the otter page! Also the ending!!!