My Octopus Arms

Though a little on the bland side, this effort should reassure little ones resting in the human arms of favorite story readers. (Picture book. 2-5)

In flat, crisp-edged digital art, versatile author/illustrator Baker (LMNO Peas) draws underwater-themed images in contrasting blues and oranges that consider the myriad capabilities of an octopus's appendages. The text of the book is a long answer to a casual question from a crab: "Octopus, what can all your eight arms do?" In light patter, the octopus boasts, "My arms can... stir the pots,/ untangle knots,/ tip a hat,/ and swing a bat." They might also play several games of chess, or write seven different pieces of correspondence at the same time and still have an arm left over to stack up all the letters he's already finished. Or they might simultaneously roll out piecrust, mix dough, and hold pie tins. Very young children will enjoy working their way through the pictures and talking about the octopus's unexpected skills (such as playing a guitar, a banjo, and a harp at the same time), and they'll be soothed by the octopus's parting words: "With a hug--not too tight!--/ my arms can make it feel all right." Ages 3-7. (Sept.)

Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-K--Eight arms can be extremely handy for an octopus-not only can they do what human arms might do (bounce balls, build, knit, bake, play music and games, and tie bows), but they can also do it all at once. The multitalented animal performs these many skills under the sea, one at a time and simultaneously. The book's forced rhyming text concludes with the creature drawing a smaller octopod into a hug, "my arms can do this anytime. All arms can-yours and mine." The bright blue background and cuddly characters are rendered digitally in a colorful cartoon style and clearly depict the activities described on each spread. While light in content, this title might find a place in libraries looking specifically for books on body parts or ocean creatures.--Marge Loch-Wouters, La Crosse Public Library, WI

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.