Also an Octopus

Debut author Tokuda-Hall offers a capricious crash course in the elements and boundless possibilities of story. "Every story starts the same way... with nothing," explains an unseen narrator. "And every story needs a character. Any character you can imagine!" The narrator promptly conjures a ukulele-playing octopus who, for a story to materialize, "needs to want something." Tokuda-Hall subtly introduces concepts like conflict and emotional stakes as the octopus unsuccessfully attempts to build a spaceship from soda cans, umbrellas, glitter, and waffles ("I'm not really qualified to build a spaceship," quips the bewildered protagonist). Eventually, the octopus's ukulele-strumming attracts friends and rocket scientists, who help propel the story to a resolution. What happens next, the author tells readers, is "up to you! When one story ends, it's just making room for another story to begin." Davies's (Grandad's Island) freewheeling digital art keeps pace with the encouraging narration, and the concluding image--of a rocket scientist water-skiing atop a rhino while wearing a colander on her head--cements the idea that, when it comes to storytelling, anything is possible. Ages 3-7. Author's agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator's agent: Vicki Willden-Lebrecht, Bright Literary. (Oct.)

Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 3--"Every story starts the same way...with nothing." So begins this picture book, which doubles as an encouraging exercise in story development. Moving on from nothing, the narrator says that every story needs a character, and after presenting a couple of possibilities (a little girl, a bunny), it settles on an octopus who plays the ukulele. From there, the narrator explores the concept of plot: "But in order for it to be a story, and not just an octopus, that octopus needs to want something." This particular octopus wants a spaceship, a complicated desire that sets the stage for plenty of comedy and the introduction of more characters (including the girl, the bunny, and some rocket scientists). The bubbly, appealing art has punchy humor and works as an ongoing conversation with the narration, bringing the fumbling but exciting progress of crafting a new story to life. As the book ends, the visuals move the plot in a multitude of new directions, but the text leaves everything open-ended, concluding with encouragement for readers to take it from there. The final page shows one of the rocket scientists wielding a wrench and sporting a colander on her head as she rides a water-skiing rhinoceros off the right-hand page into whatever new plot readers can dream up for her. VERDICT This entertaining read-aloud will jump-start imaginations and create opportunities for thinking about existing tales as well as for making new ones.--Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Debut author Tokuda-Hall offers a capricious crash course in the elements and boundless possibilities of story...freewheeling digital art keeps pace with the encouraging narration, and the concluding image—of a rocket scientist water-skiing atop a rhino while wearing a colander on her head—cements the idea that, when it comes to storytelling, anything is possible.
—Publishers Weekly

Mixing deadpan humor with whimsical, endearing characters, Tokuda-Hall spins a reader-friendly metanarrative out of a wickedly absurd premise. Filled with numerous shades of purple, yellow, and blue, Davies' inspired digital artwork springs from the page, like bursts of an overactive imagination...A perceptive how-to for beginner storytellers.
—Kirkus Reviews

Funny and engaging, this book has an interactive quality that will inspire kids to imagine a story of their own.
—Booklist

The bubbly, appealing art has punchy humor and works as an ongoing conversation with the narration, bringing the fumbling but exciting progress of crafting a new story to life...This entertaining read-aloud will jump-start imaginations and create opportunities for thinking about existing tales as well as for making new ones.
—School Library Journal

A superfun story that completely engages the imagination (while actually teaching kids about constructing a good story), "Also an Octopus" is first rate in every way.
—Reading Eagle (from Kendal Rautzhan's "Books to Borrow")