In Deep with the Octopus

Gr 4–6—With a light touch, Dixon debunks the myth of the giant, monster octopus and introduces the real, intelligent invertebrate. Each page is illustrated with full-color photographs of body parts, prey, predators, and the many different kinds of these ocean creatures. Detailed side and top cutaway views show the internal organs clearly, including its three hearts. Circular text boxes contain quick facts. The author uses joking language on reproduction and in the callouts accompanying the illustrations, e.g., "Wait…before we start dating, I have to ask-are you a girl?" Boldface terms are indexed and also defined in the one-page glossary. Useful pronunciation guides help with such terms as "chitin" (kayh-tin), "radula" (raj-a-la), and "cephalopod" (sef-al-o-pod). Environmental dangers that impact these complex creatures are described, as are strange human rituals that may affect their survival, such as the practice of Detroit Red Wing hockey fans throwing octopus bodies onto the ice before a game. Informative despite the sometimes overly jaunty language.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA