Octavia And Her Purple Ink Cloud
#1 in Physical & Behavioral Adaptation , Aquatic Animals & Habitats: Salt Water , Character & Overcoming Adversity Series
What’s inside...
Octavia Octopus and her sea-animal friends love playing camouflage games, practicing hiding from predators. Octavia struggles with her camouflage skills, especially when trying to shoot her purple ink cloud. When a hungry shark appears, Octavia's unique color might just be her advantage. This book introduces children to basic colors, camouflage techniques of sea animals, and marine biology. The 'For Creative Minds' section provides educational content about octopuses, animal camouflage, and color blending activities. The book also includes extensive teaching materials and supports ELL and dual-language programs.
Character compass
Octavia
Discussion points
Why do you think Octavia the octopus squirts ink? How do you think she feels when she does it?
What are some ways Octavia tries to solve her problem in the story? Can you think of other ways she could have dealt with it?
How do Octavia’s friends react to her ink clouds? How important is it to have supportive friends when we face challenges?
What did you learn about octopuses and other sea creatures from this book?
If you were Octavia, what would you do differently in the story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading to bring the characters to life. This helps engage your child and can spark more interest in the characters' experiences and reactions.
Pause after reading significant parts of the story to ask these questions, giving your child time to think about the story and relate it to their own experiences.
Encourage your child to imagine alternative endings or scenarios to broaden their understanding and creativity.
Link discussions from the book to personal experiences. For example, talk about a time your child faced a problem and what they did to resolve it.
Reinforce the messages about friendship and problem-solving by connecting them to real-life situations your child might encounter.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Embracing Uniqueness
Explanation: Octavia, the main character, is a young octopus who squirts purple ink instead of the typical black ink, making her unique among her friends. Through the story, she learns to appreciate her uniqueness.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to value the things that make them different and view these traits as strengths rather than sources of embarrassment.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: Throughout the story, Octavia faces challenges due to her purple ink. She employs creative thinking and experimentation to solve problems, ultimately turning her unique trait into an advantage.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think critically and creatively when faced with obstacles, instead of giving up.
Example Lesson: Dealing with Mistakes
Explanation: When Octavia accidentally releases her ink in class, she initially feels embarrassed. However, she learns to manage her reactions and works towards finding a solution.
Real-World Application: Children are reminded that everyone makes mistakes and that these are opportunities to learn and grow, not just reasons to feel ashamed.
Example Lesson: Helping Others
Explanation: Octavia uses her purple ink to help her friends during a class project, realizing that her unique ability can also benefit others.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of helping others and using their unique skills to contribute positively to the group.