How the Octopus Got Eight Arms, written by Yvonne Arroyo, illustrated by Carl Wanzung

About the book: Oscar Octopus and his wife, Sharky Shark, are the proud parents of a sizeable brood. Oscar adores his children, and spends every spare moment playing with them. Things go swimmingly until, one day, Sharky has to make an emergency visit to see her ailing mother. Suddenly, Oscar is left in charge of his offspring. Because of a huge physical shortcoming, Oscar is unable to meet the needs of all his kids. His wife returns to find him nearly dead of exhaustion. She rushes him to the doctor, who performs emergency surgery on him. In no time at all the new and improved Oscar is able to more easily handle his children. He and his family live playfully and happily ever after. This sure-fire pleaser features rich vocabulary, lively rhyming text and attractive illustrations that will warm every young reader's heart.

Paperback

Format: 7 x 10 color paperback, 45 pages

Publisher: Outskirts Press (Apr 18, 2013)Thought

ISBN13: 9781432793692

Genre: POETRY / General

Where to buy: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Outskirt Press Bookstore

About the Author: Yvonne Arroyo spent 32 years as a bilingual Spanish teacher for the Chicago and Trenton school systems. She has written several poems and chants for children and currently lives in Vacaville, CA. 

About the Illustrator: Carl Wanzung has taught both Art and Preschool to Second Language learners in Chicago Public Schools for the past 30 years. His own art work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in the United States, Japan and Scotland and is privately collected.

My Thoughts:

 Deep in the ocean a romance grew, it must have been love at first sight, between Oscar the Octopus and the lovely Sharkey McGhee. They enjoyed a wonderful courtship and were seen out dining and even at the movies.  Then one day Sharkey donned a lovely bridal veil and Oscar a handsome top hat and were joined in matrimony.  

I would like to say they lived happily ever after. You see their family was blessed with eight babies.  Thing became stressful for the new parents because Sharkey had to aid her mum. The problem was Oscar only had two arms and needed more help to keep up with the babies.  If  only he had  eight arms!

I read this book to my handsome little nephew and he is usually a active little fellow yet he sat quietly while I read him the book. .He definitely enjoyed the illustrations and the fun story as a whole. I can't wait to read the book to my grandchildren. I know they will be as captivated with this story also.

I gladly recommend this book

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this book from the Outskirt Press/Bostick Communications for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  This review is my honest opinion.