What About an Octopus?

On a visit to the ocean, a curious little girl goes searching for a seashell and meets a new eight-armed friend

While at the ocean, a curious young girl goes searching for a seashell and finds an octopus friend instead. The encounter turns into an afternoon full of play and discovery. From eating, to napping, to playing, octopuses are just like us … aren’t they? Well, maybe not quite …

For instance, when you spot an octopus, you might be tempted to shake its hand. Please don’t! A friendly wave is just fine. A sidebar explains that all octopuses have eight arms, and some can even detach an arm to escape when trapped or threatened. (Don’t worry—the arm will grow back!)

Throughout this underwater adventure, fun-to-read sidebars add context by describing a variety of fascinating facts about octopuses, while colorful, movement-filled illustrations perfectly capture the charm and gentle humor of this informational picture book.

Deborah Kerbel is the award-winning author of more than thirty books for young people. From graphic novels to nonfiction, picture books to middle grade and YA, her work has been shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Forest of Reading Silver Birch Fiction Award and the Canadian Library Association’s YA Book Award, among others. Her books have been translated into French,

Korean, Turkish, German and Chinese. Deborah lives in Thornhill, Ontario with her family.

Born in Hong Kong, DAWN LO is an illustrator currently based in Vancouver, the unceded lands of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. In addition to illustrating picture books, her work has appeared on stationery, greeting cards, public art installations, murals, and more.

• Dogwood Nonfiction Reading ListCommended 2025