Slade, Suzanne. Behold the Octopus! Thomas Gonzalez, Illus. Peachtree, 04/2023. 32pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-68263-312-0. GRADES Preschool–4. OUTSTANDING.
Bold, rhyming adjectives, matched with fascinating detailed text, follow flowing images to capture the essence of the octopus. Full-bleed, close-up illustrations in vivid pastel, colored pencil, and airbrush give a strong sense of dynamic movement on—and sometimes speeding off—every page. The combination of simple words in larger type with descriptive paragraphs in smaller type make the text extremely suitable for reading aloud. With a poetic feel throughout, Slade is able to gracefully include details of behavior, habitat, life spans, egg-laying, and astonishing special attributes of twelve different species. The afterword provides more information, photographs, and further resources. This elegant informational picture book is a versatile readaloud that will inspire awe in a wide range of readers.
Alexandre Petrakis—San Francisco Public Library