Obsessive About Octopuses; Owen Davey

Octopuses are seriously cool as Owen Davey proves in a non-fiction book dedicated to these eight-armed marvels.

In Obsessive About Octopuses, Davey brilliantly explains and highlights how these super-smart cephalopods survive and thrive in the oceans of the world. Everything is covered from diet, bodily design, movement and camouflage to self defence, brain power and offspring. A particularly entertaining section at the end awards medals for most fashion-minded, most sociable, best on land and digging. Further pages explore octopus mythology with tales from Japanese, Native-American and Māori cultures and the final pages are devoted to conservation and provide helpful tips on how readers can actively protect the oceans and ensure that octopuses continue to thrive in their ocean homes. My personal favourite is the section devoted to the weird and wonderful octopuses which introduces a transparent glass octopus, the California two-spot octopus whose eyes are only visible when it is surprised or threatened, and the flapjack octopus which I love just because of its name!

You know this book is going to be a whole lot of fun just by opening the front cover where you are met with with the most vibrant of end papers and things just continue to get better throughout. Page layouts have great variety and each turn of the page holds great anticipation and excitement at what might come next. Each page is stylishly produced and features bold and colourful illustrations alongside lots of scientific detail that is perfectly pitched to pique the curiosity of readers and encourage them to find out more. Davey presents clear, concise and interesting information that is so accessible that young readers will become experts and will be amazing friends and adults with an abundance of outstanding octopus facts. For example: did you know that octopuses have three hearts? Have you heard about the giant Pacific octopus that can grow up to five metres long? Did you know that the mimic octopus can impersonate up to 15 different marine creatures? These are just three of my favourite facts, there are plenty more outstanding octopus facts to satisfy the appetite of fact-hungry readers.

This is how non-fiction books should be done. A wonderful addition to any bookshelf.

Recommended for 7+.