The Octopus Scientists Exploring the Mind of a Mollusk, by Sy Montgomery, photographs by Keith Ellenbogen, (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2015)
Sy Montgomery, along with a small group of researchers, head to Polynesia to study the natural wonder known as the octopus. Montgomery gives plenty of details about the trip without bogging down the narrative. Keith Ellenbogen’s photographs are rich and clear with amazing colors. The descriptions of the locations, even without the photos is enticing and begs the reader to visit. The researchers love what they do and have fun doing it, but Montgomery shows the reality of the hard work and dedication it takes to study one of nature’s most interesting creatures. The octopuses themselves are described, not only as a research objects, but as individuals with personalities and traits of their own. They show intelligence and curiosity. Some are shy and withdrawn while others show something akin to affection with the individual researchers. The researchers themselves show nothing but care and interest in the well-being of the shelless mollusk.
The layout is clean, with white pages and a sequential narrative. Expanded information is interspersed in pages and sections clearly delineated with an illustrated blue border. Special attention is given to each researcher, giving their background and how they came to be interested in the octopus. The backmatter includes a selected bibliography and index, as well as information on the author and photographer.
At eighty pages, the book my run long for lower elementary, but it should appeal to middle grade readers up into middle and high school. New vocabulary in the text is introduced with the definition following. The book could benefit from a glossary, however, in case a reader wanted to check the meaning of a word after its initial introduction. This book would pair well with any study of ocean animals, coral reefs, or, of course, octopuses. A great book to pair with this is The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness, Sy Montgomery (Atria Books, 2015.)
The information from the book is enough to convert even the most reluctant into an octo-fan.