Baby Kraken

PreS-Gr 2–Not quite the terror of Norse mythology, the kraken in the title refers to a young octopus who enjoys a new friendship made at the ocean’s shore during a young human’s vacation. Ollie (white) arrives at the shore for his first visit to the ocean. He isn’t afraid; he is “cautious.” While his mom and dad (also white) splash in the water, he goes exploring along the shore, and in the tidepools he finds a small octopus in need of rescuing. The two young creatures form a friendship, and Ollie discovers a friendly and colorful world underwater. The simple ­delights of this friendship tale are strengthened by honoring the young child’s initial fear as well as his ability to overcome that fear. The young octopus is a charming creature, and the illustrations do a marvelous job capturing the emotions of the two new friends, as well as highlighting the underwater world in bright, friendly colors.