Shy Octopus watches the other inhabitants of the coral reef she calls home in this lovely picture-book, but isn't sure she wants to interact that closely with them. Alarmed when the friendly seahorses come calling, she changes her color to camouflage herself, and flees the reef for a more peaceful part of the ocean. After encountering a crabbing boat and a giant whale, she finds just what she is looking for, and enjoys some time by herself. Eventually though, she finds herself missing the company of the other inhabitants of the reef...

Having enjoyed all three of author/illustrator Divya Srinivasan's delightful picture-books about Little Owl - Little Owl's Night, Little Owl's Day and Little Owl's Snow - I was quite excited to discover that she had also created a book about an octopus! Being a lover of all things octopode, I immediately sought out Octopus Alone, and (predictably) found it charming. The artwork is every bit as appealing as in the Little Owl books, with vibrant colors that pop off the page, backgrounds that are themselves beautifully colored, and stylized figures that are immensely appealing. I particularly liked the fold-out page showing the massive whale. The story itself is likewise engaging, highlighting the fact that while shy and/or introverted creatures (and children) may seek time alone, they also need companionship. Recommended to young octopus lovers, and to fans of Srinivasan's distinctive artwork. ( )

My 3yo did not get into this, but maybe we'll try another time. It's a sweet story of an octopus who lives in a busy reef and needs a little time away from everyone before coming back to rejoin her friends. ( )

Colorful, beautiful illustrations accompany lots of great vocabulary words as well as a nice catalog of undersea creatures.

*Wonderful* pictures of sea life.  Yay for escaping the barnyard setting!  Effective story for over-scheduled families, and for me, as I age and get more & more antisocial. ( )

Shy octopus has an adventure in this beautifully illustrated story. ( )