Octopus Stew
What’s inside...
What do you do when an octopus captures Grandma? Put on your superhero cape and rescue her! This clever picture book tells two stories in one, from award-winning Afro-Latino artist Eric Velasquez. The octopus Grandma is cooking has grown to titanic proportions. '¡Tenga cuidado!' Ramsey shouts. 'Be careful!' But it's too late. The octopus traps Grandma! Ramsey uses both art and intellect to free his beloved abuela. Then the story takes a surprising twist. And it can be read two ways. Open the fold-out pages to find Ramsey telling a story to his family. Keep the pages folded, and Ramsey's octopus adventure is real. This beautifully illustrated picture book, drawn from the author's childhood memories, celebrates creativity, heroism, family, grandmothers, grandsons, Puerto Rican food, Latinx culture and more. With an author's note and the Velasquez family recipe for Octopus Stew! A Bank Street Best Book of the Year
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think Ramsey felt when he saw the octopus grow larger? Have you ever felt a similar way when facing something unexpected?
How did Ramsey use his creativity to solve the problem with the giant octopus? Can you think of a time when you used your creativity to solve a problem?
Why do you think the family worked together to handle the octopus? How important is teamwork in your family?
Ramsey's grandma uses storytelling in her cooking. How do stories play a role in our everyday lives, like cooking or spending time with family?
What would you have done if you were in Ramsey’s situation? Why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate their own experiences to Ramsey’s adventures, reinforcing the connection between personal creativity and problem-solving.
Discuss the importance of family and teamwork, emphasizing how family can support each other in overcoming challenges.
Explore the concept of storytelling through everyday actions such as cooking, and engage your child in telling their own simple story during a family activity.
After reading, ask your child to draw their favorite scene from the book, fostering both artistic expression and comprehension of the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: In 'Octopus Stew,' the main character, Ramsey, must think quickly and creatively to rescue his grandmother from a giant octopus. His inventive use of everyday items demonstrates effective problem-solving.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by using their imagination and resourcefulness to solve problems they encounter at school or at home.
Example Lesson: Importance of family
Explanation: Throughout the story, Ramsey's actions are motivated by his love and concern for his grandmother's safety, highlighting the strong bonds within families.
Real-World Application: Kids are encouraged to value and protect their family relationships, showing love and care in their daily interactions.
Example Lesson: Courage in the face of fear
Explanation: Despite the scary situation with the giant octopus, Ramsey shows bravery. His courage helps him to confront and manage a frightening situation.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to face their fears and understand that bravery is not the absence of fear, but the ability to act in spite of it.
Example Lesson: Creativity and imagination
Explanation: Ramsey’s solution to the octopus problem involves a clever and imaginative use of materials and ideas. This highlights the value of creativity.
Real-World Application: Children learn to use their imagination to create solutions and express ideas, enhancing their creative thinking skills.
Example Lesson: Heritage and cultural identity
Explanation: The story is infused with elements of Afro-Caribbean culture, including references to food and family traditions. This reinforces the importance of cultural heritage.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to explore and take pride in their own cultural backgrounds and those of others around them, promoting cultural understanding and appreciation.