Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Izzy and Oscar
Illustrator: Tracy Dockray
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Sourcebooks, 2015 ISBN: 978-1492601500
Everyone in Izzy’s crew has a pet except for her. Her crewmembers (her friends) tell her that a real pirate captain should have a mascot, a pet that is the captain’s staunch friend and companion. Not long after, while they are hunting for treasure, the children find a baby octopus waiting at a beach crossing. Though the octopus, Oscar, is not quite what Izzy had in mind, he is still cute and she decides to take him home.
Izzy’s mother is not best pleased with Izzy’s rather unconventional pet, and Izzy soon learns that having a pet octopus is not like having a pet cat, dog or bird. They like to eat stinky fish, they can’t really sit on your shoulder, and they don’t always cooperate when you take them for a walk. Izzy leans that octopi have a gift for hiding (they are masters of camouflage) and they also squirt ink on people when they are surprised. Perhaps Oscar would be better off in the ocean, where he came from.
In this amusing book we see how friendships can sometimes be a little rocky at the beginning, especially if your friend happens to be an octopus. Children will be amused to see how Izzy and Oscar resolve their problem in a rather unconventional way.
