Octopus – Cannonball Read 17

“Day 1,361 of My Captivity . . . ” CBRBINGO – Rec’d

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

July 29, 2025 by narfna Leave a Comment

I tried to read this last year? The year before? And couldn’t bring myself to get very far, for whatever reason. But recently I was working on a reading vlog where I was only going to read books with animal narrators, and I thought it might be a good time to try this book again. It stuck this time! Remarkably Bright Creatures follows three main narrators: Tova, a widow whose son also died when he was seventeen, who is now a janitor at an aquarium; […]

Kerbel and Lo Present: Animals

What About an Elephant?: A Fact-Filled Savanna Adventure by Deborah Kerbel

What About an Octopus?: A Fact-Filled Underwater Adventure by Deborah Kerbel

April 7, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I was looking through a recent email sent to me via a publisher. They were promoting a few new books and What About an Elephant?: A Fact-Filled Savanna Adventure by Deborah Kerbel and illustrated by Dawn Lo was one of them (it is due in mid-August 2025). There was a companion title, What About an Octopus?: A Fact-Filled Underwater Adventure also by Kerbel and Lo (but is currently available) advertised as well. I looked around and found online reader copies for both. While I was […]

“Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.”

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelvy Van Pelt

October 31, 2023 by cheerbrarian Leave a Comment

CBR Bingo – Bodies, Bodies Have you ever read a book that included a POV of an intelligent, and even a bit condescending, octopus? Van Pelt grips your attention right out of the gate with that device as we jump POV from Marcellus (the octopus) to Tova (the widow) and see the beginnings of their unlikely friendship, despite the fact that they aren’t even the same species. Marcellus’ body itself is a character as you see him squeeze through an improbably small space out of […]

I’d like to be/under the sea

The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden

February 27, 2019 by cosbrarian 1 Comment

Zoey doesn’t have time to finish her schoolwork. It’s not that she doesn’t care – she does. It’s not that she isn’t smart – she is. But being responsible for the care of her three preschool siblings while mom’s working means she doesn’t have time for things that other kids have time for. It would be easier for Zoey, she thinks, if she was an octopus. Eight legs to juggle her siblings and help around the house. The ability to camouflage when her teacher eyes […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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