21 Ink-credible Octopus Books For Kids

Are you searching for tentacled tales to share with your little ones? Whether your kids are captivated by the mysteries of the deep sea or simply adore a good story, these octopus books for kids are an excellent choice!

We’ve gathered stories about adventurous octopuses like Inky, the escape artist who outsmarted his aquarium tank. There are also silly tales of octopuses who prefer solitude and heartwarming stories about friendship and acceptance.

Below, you’ll find our top picks for fun read aloud books that are both educational and entertaining.

blue gradient background with a purple cartoon octopus image and the words 21 must read octopus books for kids

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Mysterious, Marvelous Octopus!

This playful book introduces young readers to the captivating world of octopuses, big and small, ink-squirting and shape-shifting, all around the planet. It’s a celebration of all things weird and wonderful about these beloved creatures—with their eight arms, nine brains, and one-of-a-kind personalities.

The book is filled with lyrical poetry paired with informational sidebars, perfect for a charming bedtime read or pouring over for in-depth octopus info.

National Geographic Readers: Ink! (L3): 100 Fun Facts About Octopuses, Squid, and More

This book is a treasure trove of fun facts and cool information about our underwater friends. Your child will meet cuttlefish that can camouflage themselves, octopuses that outsmart their predators, and squid that patrol the deep.

Inky the Octopus: The Official Story of One Brave Octopus’ Daring Escape

Inky, the brave and intelligent octopus, flees from his tank at the aquarium. He slips out of his enclosure through a small opening, and then, believe it or not, he slithers down a drainpipe! His destination? The vast, open ocean.

The book beautifully chronicles the adventure that the real-life Inky might have taken on his escape to freedom. It’s a journey of courage, intelligence, and a longing for freedom.

After swimming through this fun book, extend the fun with this easy and adorable paper cup octopus craft that's sure to bring smiles to your kids' faces!

Octopus Shocktopus!

Imagine waking up one day to find a giant octopus on your roof! That’s exactly what happens in this story. The children absolutely love their new friends. He’s not just an octopus—he’s a multi-talented octopus! He makes the perfect slide and is fantastic at football.

But not everyone is as thrilled. Some of the grown-ups aren’t so pleased. The big question is, will they drive away their spectacular, tentacular chum, or will they realize just how helpful and fun an octopus can be?

This octopus toilet paper roll craft will bring a splash of fun into your child's day!

An Octopus Is Amazing

The book is a charming introduction to the truly amazing octopus. It’s filled with fun facts and colorful illustrations by Holly Keller. Did you know that a common octopus has 1,920 suction cups? That’s 240 suction cups on each of its eight arms! And if an octopus loses an arm, it will eventually grow another one. How cool is that?

This book is a part of the Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2 series, and it’s a delightful read for early elementary-age kids.

How to Hide an Octopus and Other Sea Creatures

This book is a fascinating exploration of the underwater world and its elusive inhabitants. It takes readers on a nature hunt to discover the camouflaged octopus, crabs, brilliantly-painted tropical fish, and other wonderful sea creatures hidden in its pages. It is also a delightful blend of science and art, with stunning, full-color illustrations of sea creatures. It uses rhyming text, making it engaging and easy to understand.

Inky’s Amazing Escape: How a Very Smart Octopus Found His Way Home

Inky had been living at the aquarium since 2014 after being rescued by a fisherman who found him at sea. The staff quickly realized that Inky was no ordinary octopus. He was incredibly smart and needed to be entertained, or he would get bored.

Then, one fateful night in 2016, Inky decided he’d had enough of his aquarium life. He slithered eight feet across the floor and down a drainpipe more than 160 feet long to his home in the sea. Talk about a daring escape!

Transform storytime into a hands-on adventure with this paper chain octopus craft!

Tickly Octopus

During his search, the octopus discovers he has many talents beyond tickling. He can swim fast, squeeze into small places, and, most importantly, find and return the oyster’s pearl!

This charming story, beautifully illustrated by Ruth Galloway, teaches children the importance of understanding others’ feelings and discovering one’s talents. It’s a must-read for kids aged 3 to 7.

Get ready to ink-crease your kids' fun with these awesome octopus worksheets, perfect for little learners who love to color, count, and cut their way through the deep blue sea!

The Octopus Escapes

The Octopus Escapes” is a poignant, lyrical tale about nature’s great escape artist. Our eight-legged hero is quite content in his undersea cave, living a peaceful life. But one day, a diver captures him and takes him to live in an aquarium.

But here’s the twist! Under the cover of darkness, he makes a daring escape. It’s a story full of excitement and heart, about the thrill of hard-won freedom and the pull of home.

Get tangled up in fun with this cute octopus name craft that's fun to do after reading ends!

Octopus’s Garden

The song takes your kid on a magical trip to an undersea garden where an octopus lives. It’s a place of escape, tranquility, and peace. The lyrics vividly depict a world where the octopus and other sea creatures live harmoniously. It’s all about finding a serene and harmonious environment to escape from the world's complexities.

In this enchanting underwater world, there are no rules or expectations. It’s a place of pure bliss, a reminder to find solace in our personal havens, whether physical or metaphorical.

Get ready for hands-on fun with this delightful octopus handprint craft, where kids can transform their tiny hands into colorful ocean wonders. It's a perfect under-the-sea companion to any octopus-themed storybook!

The Octopus Scientists (Scientists in the Field)

This book is an adventure with an international team of scientists studying octopuses' behaviors on a remote South Pacific island. Imagine spending two weeks snorkeling and diving around the reefs off the coast of Moorea, in French Polynesia, learning about these intelligent and surprising creatures. Sounds like a dream, right?

Each chapter is action-filled and smoothly integrated with informative passages about octopuses, the field station, and coral reefs. It describes the team’s daily explorations in the water and their lab work, identifying the food remains collected from neat piles outside the octopuses’ dens.

Gentle Giant Octopus: Read and Wonder

The story centers around the life cycle of the giant octopus, focusing on the female as she searches for the perfect place to lay her eggs. And guess what? These octopus moms are super dedicated – they lay eggs only once in their lifetime!

The book is packed with fun and interesting facts about octopuses. Did you know they can change colors? Or that they don’t have any bones?

Oscar the Octopus: A Book About the Months of the Year

Each month, Oscar catches a new textured creature hiding within his arms. The cleverly textured pages are designed to tickle your fingertips and funny bones while revealing clues to what Oscar will catch next.

But hold on, there’s a twist! Oscar catches a cold in December and sneezes, letting all the other creatures go. Talk about a surprise pop-up ending!

Let's get crafting with this super fun paper plate octopus craft! Kids can swirl their brushes, bringing to life their very own sea buddy with just a bit of paint and the free template.

Octopus Escapes Again!: A Marine Biology Book for Kids Perfect for the Classroom

Our eight-legged friend is on a mission to find food while trying not to become food itself. Talk about a tough day at the office, right? But don’t worry, this octopus has some serious survival skills up its… tentacles.

The book highlights the amazing defense mechanisms that the octopus uses. From squirting ink to cloud the water to changing color and texture for camouflage, this octopus is a master of disguise!

Octopuses: Animals That Make a Difference!

Did you know that octopuses have no bones and can change color? And they’re not just cool to look at but also great at recycling!

The book explores how these unique traits help octopuses survive in the vast ocean of predators and pollution. It’s a real eye-opener about these creatures' challenges and their amazing adaptations.

Good Thing You’re Not an Octopus!

Imagine wearing eight pairs of pants every morning because you’re an octopus! Or having to nap all winter long if you were a bear! This book follows a little boy through his day as he playfully imagines how different his life would be if he were a bird, a tiger, or other baby animals.

It’s a hilarious and imaginative take on daily chores like dressing, brushing teeth, and napping. The book uses repetition and some really outlandish situations to make each point. It’s a great read for kids who might be feeling a bit negative about their daily tasks.

Get ready to wiggle and giggle with this octopus paper bag puppet, where your kids can create their own chatty sea creature, perfect for bringing story time to life

Also an Octopus

This story with eight-legged has got to want something. And what’s that? To travel to faraway galaxies in a totally awesome purple spaceship! But here’s the kicker: Our octopus friend decided to build this spaceship out of soda cans, glue, umbrellas, glitter, and waffles! Oh, yes, it's a DIY project! Will he be able to travel?

This book is a delightful romp through storytelling, showing us that even the most outlandish dreams can take flight with a little imagination and a lot of determination.

Hello, My Name Is…

This book is about a little octopus who moved into a new neighborhood under the sea. He’s so tiny he could fit right in the palm of your hand! But guess what? He doesn’t have a name yet! All his neighbors have cool names that match their unique abilities. But our little octopus friend doesn’t have the same abilities as these guys. So, what could his name be?

Love, Agnes: Postcards from an Octopus

One day, Agnes stumbles upon a postcard and starts sending postcards and striking up conversations with all sorts of creatures below and above the waves. It’s like she’s running her own underwater pen pal club!

The book is a fun and unlikely introduction to the octopus life cycle. So, if your kids are into sea creatures, science, nature, or love a good story about friendship, this one is perfect!

My Octopus Arms

This book is about an adorable octopus and his crab buddy showing off what they can do with their arms. From tying a bow and performing a show to baking a pie and waving goodbye, there’s no limit to the fun they have. But guess what the best part is? The very best thing we can do with their arms is hugging!

The illustrations are lively and energetic, making the underwater world come alive. The sweet story sends a warm message: "All arms are made to reach out and draw someone in for a loving embrace."

Octopants

“Octopants” is a delightful children’s book that takes us on a hilarious underwater adventure with a charming octopus. The octopus finds himself in a pickle. He can’t find any pants that fit him! Until he discovers the Under-Sea Emporium. Will he finally find something just right for him?

The story is told in a playful rhyming style, making it a joy to read aloud. It’s filled with vibrant and fun illustrations that bring the underwater world to life.

Which on the lists have you read together? Let us know in the comments!

Sam

Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump and more. Read more.

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