The Octopus by Guojing (Review)

Title: The Octopus
Creator: Guojing
Type: Fiction
Genre: Children’s
Publisher: Two Lions
Date published: April 22, 2026

A complimentary physical copy of this book was kindly provided by Firefly Books in exchange for an honest review.

A little girl goes to the beach with her mother, never expecting the day full of magic and wonder that is ahead of her. When she scoops up a tiny octopus in her small, clear container, and they see each other eye to eye, there’s a spark between them! But a little octopus cannot be happy for long in a container. So the girl sets out to discover what the octopus needs. And that’s when something truly magical happens! Soon, the little girl is on an underwater adventure with her new octopus friend, where she discovers the joy and beauty of the octopus’s world and learns how she can help take care of the ocean in her own way.

⤖ My Review ⬻

I cannot remember the last time I read a book without words! The illustrations in Guojing’s The Octopus told the story impeccably though. Guojing’s illustrations skillfully conveyed the mood of each scene as well as communication between the characters! I was so impressed. The art is also cozy and sweet—a real pleasure to look at. I found myself smiling throughout a lot of The Octopus and I teared up at times as well. This was such a nice story with a subtly embedded lesson about environmental consciousness for little and big readers. I hope to read more Guojing soon!