The Octopus Escapes

Ages 3 to 7, Grades P to 2

From the bestselling author of The Apothecary series comes a poignant, lyrical tale about nature’s great escape artist.

The octopus is happy in his undersea cave until one day, a diver captures him and takes him to live in an aquarium. The humans give him food and tests that look like toys. But every day is the same, and the octopus soon tires of captive life. And so, under the cover of darkness, he makes his daring escape…

Maile Meloy and Felicita Sala bring us a story full of excitement and heart, about the thrill of hard-won freedom and the pull of home.

About the Author

Maile Meloy is the bestselling author of a middle-grade trilogy: The Apothecary, which won the E. B. White Read-Aloud Award and the California Book Awards Gold Medal; The Apprentices; and The After-Room. She also writes short stories, essays, and novels for adults. She grew up in Montana and lives in Los Angeles. Visit her online at mailemeloy.com.

Author Residence: Los Angeles, CA

Felicita Sala received Italy's Premio Andersen for her work illustrating many books for children, including She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book; Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor by Patricia Valdez; and I Don't Draw, I Color! by Adam Lehrhaupt. Visit her online at FelicitaSala.com. Follow her on Instagram @felicita.sala.

Illustrator Hometown: Rome, Italy