Inky hatches from an egg ‘the size of a grain of rice’. He grows and learns in his ocean home until one day he's injured and is taken to an aquarium by a fisherman.
At the aquarium, Inky displays his smarts, curiosity and confidence. Squeezing into tight places, changing colours and even playing with Lego blocks, his curiosity leads to his ultimate but most likely accidental escape.
Written by Sy Montgomery, an author of over twenty published natural history related stories for both adults and children including The Soul of the Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness. Her extensive knowledge of the octopus world is evident in Inky’s Amazing Escape.
The digitally finished collage-style illustrations suit the story and portray the mostly water-based environments in a modern way, with interesting textures and a calming colour palette.
This enlightening story is fun to read aloud, facts about Inky may prompt a giggle or further discussion. The endnote and octopus facts at the back of the book give background to the story and promote further learning.
Title: Inky’s Amazing Escape
Author: Sy Montgomery
Illustrator: Amy Schimler-Safford
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd, $16.99
Publication Date: 1 November 2018
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781534439047
For ages: 4 – 8
Type: Picture Book
