The Octopus Escapes, Maile Meloy
The Octopus Escapes, Maile Meloy
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The Octopus Escapes

Author: Maile Meloy

Narrator: Imani Jade Powers

Unabridged: 7 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/11/2021

Synopsis

From a New York Times bestselling author comes this poignant, lyrical tale about nature's great escape artist—perfect for fans of the Oscar-winning documentary film My Octopus Teacher.

The octopus is happy in his undersea cave until one day, a diver captures him and takes him to live in an aquarium. The humans give him food and tests that look like toys. But every day is the same, and the octopus soon tires of captive life. And so, under the cover of darkness, he makes his daring escape...

Maile Meloy and Felicita Sala bring us a story full of excitement and heart, about the thrill of hard-won freedom and the pull of home.

About The Author

Maile Meloy is the bestselling author of a middle-grade trilogy: The Apothecary, which won the E. B. White Read-Aloud Award and the California Book Awards Gold Medal; The Apprentices; and The After-Room. She also writes short stories, essays, and novels for adults. She grew up in Montana and lives in Los Angeles. Visit her online at mailemeloy.com.Felicita Sala received Italy's Premio Andersen for her work illustrating many books for children, including She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book; Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor by Patricia Valdez; and I Don't Draw, I Color! by Adam Lehrhaupt. Visit her online at FelicitaSala.com. Follow her on Instagram @felicita.sala.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Moonkiszt on March 23, 2023

Featured in a grandma reads session. . . In which we are presented with Octopus, curious, contented and equanimous within their home cave in the ocean. Settled and satisfied, Octopus ventures out one dark day and, caught in the act of fully exploring the inner lining of a black glove, is dragged into......more

Goodreads review by H.L.H. on September 03, 2022

Octopi are unsettlingly intelligent......more

Goodreads review by Anthony on July 16, 2021

An octopus enjoys living in its under water cave watching fish swim by, chasing his dinner, and sweeping the sand from his cave. But his life changes when he's captured and taken to live in a big glass house. The octopus was content for a while, but soon tired of being trapped, so he made plans to e......more

Goodreads review by Ashlee on August 08, 2024

How this doesn’t have a higher average rating I do not know. I’m obsessed with this lil octopus and his journey to freedom, and the colour and expressiveness of Sala’s illustrations are utterly arresting.......more

Goodreads review by Rachel on August 07, 2021

One of my favorite cephalopods is the the Giant Red Pacific Octopus, so when I found a book on one of my book review newsletters about an escaping one (and octopuses are fabulous escape artists), I knew I had to get this book! The octopus in this story was happy in his little cave, venturing out to......more

Quotes

Praise for The Octopus Escapes:
An Indie Bestseller

“This is a beautifully illustrated picture book that manages to be lighthearted and fun whilst also exploring the negative implications of keeping animals—especially animals caught in the wild—in captivity.” —GeekMom
 
“Stunning . . . Sure to entertain readers.” —School Library Journal

“Sala’s vibrant illustrations teem with life . . . Readers will get a great glimpse into the capabilities of the wonderfully brainy octopus in this sweet meditation on the tradeoffs between living in safe comfort and making your own way in the world.” —Booklist

“[A] satisfying home-away-home narrative . . . Offers an opportunity for conversation with young readers about the roles of zoos and aquariums.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Sala (Green on Green) contributes vibrant art . . . The tender narrative is gratifying and may serve as an effective jumping-off point for discussions about animal captivity.” —Publishers Weekly
 
“Children will be drawn to the colorful, cute octopus and the diversity sea life contained in the bright illustrations.” —School Library Connection

“[A] delightful introduction to the problem-solving abilities of one of the most intelligent animals on our planet . . . Sala’s vibrant illustrations bring this small creature to life.” —The Horn Book

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