Also an Octopus
Maggie Tokuda-Hall author Benji Davies illustrator
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Walker Books Ltd
Published:5th Jan '17
Currently unavailable, our supplier has not provided us a restock date
Every story starts with nothing, so ... why not an octopus who wants to fly in a spaceship? A delightfully meta picture book that will set imaginations soaring.
From Benji Davies, the illustrator of The Storm Whale and Grandad's Island, comes a metafictive story about ... how to build a story! First, a story needs a character. So why not a ukulele-playing octopus? And since this is a story, the octopus has to want something – maybe it dreams of travelling to faraway galaxies in a purple spaceship. But every character needs an obstacle to overcome, and when the octopus sets out to build its own spaceship out of glue, umbrellas, glitter and waffles ... well, he doesn't have much luck. Could there be another character that could help? Debut author Maggie Tokuda-Hall sets up a funny, smart and warm-hearted story all about storytelling, then hands the baton to imaginative readers, who will be more than prepared to take it away.
Davies makes his Walker debut illustrating this inventive spin on "how to build a story", guaranteed to inspire readers to tell tales of their own. * Bookseller *
“An octopus playing a ukulele is just the start of this witty and unlikely story that will inspire imagination. While having a character is a good start for a story what happens next is what really matters. Ideas aplenty are woven in as characters from an adorable bunny to rocket scientists join the octopus and help him to grow his own story in this thought provoking book about stories and how they come about.” * LoveReading Julia Eccleshare January 2017 Book of the Month *
“This is a smart and uplifting look at how stories work and the power of imagination – paired with bright colours and a very cuddly octopus in a cosy red hat. One for the creative kids out there (which is to say, all of them).” * Irish Times *
With dynamic, poly chromatic illustrations and finely judged text, this paean to the “little bit of nothing” with which a book begins should be a surefire hit for aspiring writers of any age. * The Guardian *
“An innovative picture book about how to build a story […] Funny and smart, this book will fire up youngsters’ imaginations.” * Aldershot News and Mail *
- Winner of Parents’ Choice Award 2017 (United States)
ISBN: 9781406373387
Dimensions: 280mm x 210mm x 5mm
Weight: 170g
32 pages