The Boy and the Octopus
Caryl Lewis and Carmen Saldana
Puffin Books

The arresting cover image of a small child snuggled up with an octopus immediately drew me into the pages of the book.
Meet Stanley whose favourite toy is that octopus and who in his dreams sees its skin change colour according to various feelings. Particularly important is Octopus’s ability to camouflage himself and hide when something scary comes along; indeed when beset by anxiety and fear Stanley would really like to be able to disappear.too.

There’s the occasion when other children mock him as he walks in the park leaving him unable even to talk with his dad about what happened. That night though Stanley and Octopus have a dream encounter with a sea monster and when he wakes from the experience something feels different.
The following morning Stanley sets about using his creativity to convey his feelings

under the watchful eye of his supportive dad. Thereafter having made a promise to his dad, Stanley is ready to step out and face up to difficult situations with a new-found confidence, empowered by his artistry.

Being bullied is a topic that many children find hard to talk about, often thinking when it happens that it’s somehow their fault. In her text Caryl Lewis makes it clear this isn’t so.

Carmen Saldaña’s arresting underwater sleep scenes are awash with pinks and blues in contrast to the family and park pictures that have been executed with a much more varied colour palette.

As an Early Years teacher I have encountered many traumatised children from different parts of the world: they would frequently reveal their feelings through their art so this story particularly resonated with me. It’s one to share and talk about in Foundation stage settings and at home.