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The Octopus Escapes

Author Maile Meloy
Illustrated by Felicita Sala
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Hardcover
$18.99 US
Penguin Young Readers | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
9.5"W x 11.2"H x 0.35"D  
On sale May 11, 2021 | 40 Pages | 978-1-9848-1269-8
| Preschool - 2
Reading Level: Lexile AD500L | Fountas & Pinnell L
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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.
© Courtesy of Maile Meloy
Maile Meloy is the author of the novels Liars and Saints and A Family Daughter; the short story collections Half in Love and Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It (named one of the "10 Best Books of 2009" by the New York Times Book Review); and a bestselling middle-grade trilogy. Her fiction has won the Paris Review's Aga Khan Prize for Fiction, the PEN/Malamud Award, and the Rosenthal Family Foundation Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, Meloy was shortlisted for the UK's Orange Prize for Fiction and chosen as one of Granta's Best Young American Novelists. View titles by Maile Meloy
FELICITA SALA received Italy's Premio Andersen for her work illustrating many books for children, including Green on Green by Dianne White; 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; The Octopus Escapes by Maile Meloy; and Ode to an Onion by Alexandria Giardino. She lives in Rome, Italy. View titles by Felicita Sala
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

About

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.

Author

© Courtesy of Maile Meloy
Maile Meloy is the author of the novels Liars and Saints and A Family Daughter; the short story collections Half in Love and Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It (named one of the "10 Best Books of 2009" by the New York Times Book Review); and a bestselling middle-grade trilogy. Her fiction has won the Paris Review's Aga Khan Prize for Fiction, the PEN/Malamud Award, and the Rosenthal Family Foundation Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, Meloy was shortlisted for the UK's Orange Prize for Fiction and chosen as one of Granta's Best Young American Novelists. View titles by Maile Meloy
FELICITA SALA received Italy's Premio Andersen for her work illustrating many books for children, including Green on Green by Dianne White; 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; The Octopus Escapes by Maile Meloy; and Ode to an Onion by Alexandria Giardino. She lives in Rome, Italy. View titles by Felicita Sala

Praise

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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