Synopsis
Describes the physical characteristics, diet, natural habitat, and life cycle of octopuses.
Children's Literature
The largest octopus in the world can be 20 feet long from arm tip to arm tip--but the babies of the Pacific giant are the size of a pencil eraser when they are born. Octopuses is filled with such tidbits of information, written in a straightforward style with plenty of memorable comparisons to catch the interest of a young reader. "If you had to feel around in the dark for a snack, the smooth skin of an apple might feel the same as the outside of an onion. But if you could taste with your fingertips, you could avoid biting into the wrong one." The octopus, of course, can taste with its many suckers. The octopus itself is a tasty morsel for animals like the otter, which will even bring a tin can to the surface of the water and fish out the octopus who has made a home in the can! Superb close-up photography complements Ron Hirschi's text. Glossary words are in bold throughout the book. The index is short enough not to appear daunting but sufficiently complete to cover all the topics necessary for a good school animal report.