Arlo Draws an Octopus

by Lori Mortensen, Rob Sayegh Jr. (Illustrator)

Overview

An empowering picture book about creativity, making mistakes, and changing your perspective

When Arlo decides to draw an octopus, he can’t help but think that maybe he’s just not an octopus drawer. His drawing has a head that looks like a hill and eight squiggly arms that look like roads. It’s an octopus disaster-piece! But just as Arlo vows to never draw an octopus again, he makes a discovery that changes his perspective about his drawing . . . and much more.
This endearing and relatable story gives readers of all ages a gentle reminder that we’re better than we may think. Sometimes all it takes is a second look.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419742019
Publisher:	Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	05/04/2021
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	685,238
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lori Mortensen drew a lot of pictures when she was little, including a few crumpled “disaster-pieces”! Today, she is the author of many popular children’s books, including Cowpoke Clyde and Dirty Dawg illustrated by Michael Allen Austin and If Wendell Had a Walrus illustrated by Matt Phelan. She lives in Northern California with her family and her cat, Max, who’d much rather nap than draw. Rob Sayegh Jr. is an author and illustrator who loves creating playful worlds with funny characters to make families giggle together. He is a professional snack taste-tester, falls in love with every dog he meets, and draws in crayon, just like Arlo. He has spent most of his life designing toys to encourage kids to constantly play, learn, and imagine new possibilities. He currently lives with his family in San Francisco, California.


When author and illustrator Rob Sayegh Jr. is not doodling or writing, he enjoys falling in love with every dog he meets and exploring San Francisco, where he currently lives with his partner and two dogs, Penny and Rigby.

Editorial Reviews

"A playful, reassuring picture book."

Booklist

2021-04-14
When Arlo becomes frustrated with his octopus drawing, he finds encouragement in the drawing of a newfound friend.

“One day, quite unexpectedly,” Arlo, a brown-skinned boy with curly hair, bursts into his home having made a decision: He is going to draw an octopus. But the head he draws doesn’t look quite like an octopus head. He picks up another crayon and draws eight arms. But the arms don’t look like octopus arms. By the time he finishes the suction cups, Arlo is dismayed by how little resemblance his drawing bears to an octopus. “Perturbed,” he crumples up his drawing and tosses it away. When he goes to retrieve it for proper disposal, the crumpled drawing he picks up is not his at all. It is an octopus’ drawing—of Arlo! Each subject likes the other’s rendering, and Arlo is inspired anew. Arlo’s roller coaster of emotions will feel comfortingly familiar to anyone whose enthusiasm has ever been dampened by perfectionism. When he gets back on the proverbial horse, readers will feel relief and may themselves have learned a thing or two about not being too hard on oneself. Dramatic characters in smooth colors mix with crayon-textured embellishment for an engaging foray into Arlo’s emotional journey. Arlo never questions the sudden appearance of this marine creature in his home, adding an appealing layer of absurdity and causing readers to question what’s imagination and what’s reality. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Well-written and full of fun surprises. (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews