Octopuses one to ten /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Dive into this fascinating counting journey through the amazing and mysterious world of octopuses.

Everyone knows octopuses have eight arms. But did you know that they have three hearts and nine brains? This intriguing exploration of octopuses goes through numbers one to ten, with a snappy rhyme and fascinating octopus facts for each number. The book also includes octopus crafts and activities for more learning fun!

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

In this octopus-themed book that counts from one to 10, Jackson (Beastly Babies) offers gentle rhymes that explore the animal's characteristics and habits ("They can wander where they please, swimming through the seven seas"); supplemental paragraphs elaborate on the ideas introduced ("Every ocean of the world, from the shallow coastal waters to the depths of the sea, is home to at least one species of octopus"). Page's (A Chicken Followed Me Home!) digital art, which resembles torn-paper collage, provides a sense of fluid, underwater movement while highlighting the striking diversity of octopus species, including the webbed blanket octopus and venomous blue-ringed octopus. Craft ideas are included. Ages 2-8. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Review

Gr 1-3-Octopuses of all sizes dwell in this simple but enjoyable counting book. Besides having eight arms and three hearts, octopuses also have intelligence, blue blood, and the fascinating ability to camouflage. Combining simple counting rhymes ("Six strong arms can help them grab/shrimp, lobster, fish, and crab") and brief paragraphs expanding on different subjects ("Octopuses catch prey with six of their eight arms"), this colorful work is valuable as a read-aloud and for information-seeking youngsters. Muted watercolors emphasize the incredible movement and color of octopuses, and highlighting numbers in bold helps to reinforce the counting exercise. Illustrations one through nine depict the giant Pacific octopus. Following the 10th entry, an additional nine other species, each with its own page, are introduced ("Here are ten that you might meet."). The information presented (behavior, biology, lifespan, and habitat) is well rounded; however, the octopuses' three hearts are mentioned and described, but their purpose and function are not explained. Several simple craft projects (toilet paper-roll octopus, octopus-themed snacks) are offered. VERDICT Useful for introductory science programs featuring this less-well-understood sea dweller.-Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Introducing octopuses, this lively book opens its first 10 double-page spreads with rhymed couplets featuring the numbers from 1 to 10. Each couplet is accompanied by a paragraph of related information in smaller print. Kids may be surprised to learn that octopuses have three hearts or that they use two of their legs for pushing off and three of their arms walking and catching prey. Octopus fans will want to celebrate on October 8, World Octopus Day. The tenth verse leads off the volume's second section, introducing 10 different species, one per page. With the look of cut-paper collage, the digital pictures are varied, colorful, and often striking. Large scenes featuring the giant Pacific octopus demonstrate concepts in the first half of the book, while in the second half, the illustrations show how different octopuses can be in size, shape, and coloration. The last double-page spread features illustrated directions for making four simple octopus crafts and treats. An attractive introduction to these fascinating creatures.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2016 Booklist

Horn Book Review

Spreads feature rhyming couplets that introduce ten octopus facts, along with supplemental text and striking computer-generated illustrations of a giant Pacific octopus. (Fact ten introduces ten different species.) The thoughtful use of white space and text placement combined with the fascinating information results in a well-designed, informative book. Directions for octopus-related crafts and edible treats are included. Reading list, websites. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Ellen Jackson is the award-winning author of more than fifty-five fiction and nonfiction books for children, including The Mysterious Universe (a Golden Kite honor book) and Earth Mother (which garnered three starred reviews). She lives with her husband and dog in Santa Barbara, California.

Robin Page has written and illustrated many picture books celebrating the natural world, including the 2003 Caldecott Honor recipient What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? , which she created with her husband Steve Jenkins, and her own A Chicken Followed Me Home! , Seeds Move! , and Shall We Dance? . Robin lives in Boulder, Colorado.