Gabby Dawnay and illustrator
Alex Barrow have once again teamed up to create a fourth title – If I Had An Octopus –to add to their If I Had A Dinosaur, If I Had A Sleepy Sloth, and If
I Had A Unicorn series of picture books.
What would be your perfect pet? That’s the question a little girl must answer.
Dolphins are too
grand. Jellyfish are too wobbly. Crabs? Nope too many claws. Our young
storyteller wants a clever pet with many charms and lots of arms!
Her perfect pet
is…an OCTOPUS!
Vivid colors and
lively action with every turn of the page makes the case as the little girl discovers
the fun of simultaneously engaging in multiple sports or creating a musical
afternoon with a variety of instruments thanks to her eight-legged friend. And,
of course, an octopus would be a great asset in the kitchen.
Dawney cleverly
incorporates facts about the octopus into the imaginative storyline – octopuses
have no bones and fit through tiny openings, they squirt ink when frightened,
and they can nearly disappear thanks to their remarkable ability to camouflage
themselves – making this story an ideal read for introducing a study of ocean
life for young scholars ages 3 and up.
The rhyming text
adds another layer of charm for reading aloud.
If I Had An Octopus
would be a delightful addition to any picture book collection.