Can you believe it? It’s April! And it’s Perfect Picture Book Friday!
I have the most incredibly beautiful and touching book to share with you today!
Releasing from Two Lions on April 22 – Earth Day – it is a story of kindness and environmental stewardship, and I think this is the first time I have ever reviewed a completely wordless picture book on PPBF – a true PICTURE book.
The story is as clear as if it were written, but told in breathtakingly beautiful art with lots of details for small listeners/participants to discover.
Are you ready?
Title: The Octopus
Created and Illustrated By: Guojing
ISBN#: 978-1662521508
Publisher: Two Lions, April 22, 2026, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-7 (though I know some 2 year olds who will LOVE to look at this!)
Themes/Topics: wordless picture book, kindness, environmental stewwardship
Opening:
illustration copyright Guojing 2026, Two Lions Publishing
Brief Synopsis: A little girl and her mom take a trip to the beach, where the little girl encounters a baby octopus that needs her help. A magical adventure filled with wonder opens her eyes to new knowledge about what she can do to make the world a better place.
illustration copyright Guojing 2026, Two Lions Publishing
Links To Resources: back matter includes a note from the author about the inspiration for the book as well as some Octopus Fun Facts; Earth Day Education Resource Library – activities that can be adapted for kids of all ages to help them take care of our earth.
illustration copyright Guojing 2026, Two Lions Publishing
illustration copyright Guojing 2026, Two Lions Publishing
Why I Like This Book: I LOVE this book! From page one it just pulls you in with it’s luscious, mostly pastel illustrations rendered in digital media with the soft look of watercolor or colored pencil. Without a single word, the story unfolds clearly. On a trip to the beach, a little girl discovers a baby octopus trapped in a plastic six-pack soda ring. She sets it free and returns it to the ocean, but a kind of magical spark has lit between them through their eye contact and the sea shell she wears around her neck, and they are able to go on a magical adventure together. The octopus takes her down into the ocean where she sees the whole, beautiful underwater world, some of this part illustrated in jewel tones. While there, she witnesses how other sea creatures are threatened by trash. When she returns to the beach, she takes all the items she found and puts them in the recycling bin where they belong. The characters’ faces and body language are so expressive, and the changes of perspective that show how big the little girl’s feet look compared to the tiny baby octopus, even though she herself is very little, how big her face must look to the octopus through the clear side of the container she scoops it up in, how small they both are in the great wide ocean, are so beautifully drawn. You have to see it. Some of the most beautiful pictures including two of my favorites are toward the end, but since the book isn’t even out yet I can’t share them here! A story of kinship, kindness, and environmental stewardship within the beauty of a day at the beach, this is a book that belongs on every shelf!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
illustration copyright Guojing 2026, Two Lions Publishing
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊
Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
I love a book that transports me to another world with beautiful illustrations. Living on a barrier reef island, this book has a.very important message, that reminds us all to take care of the Earth. Thank you for sharing. 🥰
Wow! Especially meaningful to you, Robin! I highly recommend you ask you library for it so you can read it! 🙂
It’s gorgeous! It’s a great story to introduce children to take care of the environment.
I agree on both counts, Mari Louise! Just lovely!
You’ve captured the girl’s emotions so well! Congratulations on a great book
It’s a work of art, Jodie! So beautifully done!
I don’t often read, or review, wordless picture books either, Susanna. But this one looks stunning & with a theme near and dear to my heart (plus I love seeing octopuses when I snorkel). I can’t wait to find & read this with my almost 2-year old, beach-loving granddaughter. Happy Easter!
As a writer, I am usually partial to words, Patricia 🙂 But in this case, the publisher offered a review copy and based on only a few pictures I eagerly said yes because it was so captivating! I can’t wait to share it with my grandkids – they are going to love it!
I love Guojing’s work! STORMY is one of my favorites. This one looks lovely too.
I’m embarrassed to say that this is the first of hers I’ve seen, Lauri, but you can bet I’m going to go find all the others!
Beautiful illustrations! I love that you are transported to the ocean world.
Isn’t it wonderful, Christy? Wait til you get to see all the rest of the illustrations – both for the incredible beauty and so you can see how the story unfolds!
Stunning! And a Happy to you as well, Susanna!
Stunning is the word, Donna. So amazing! Happy Easter to you! 🙂
What a powerful book, a beautiful story, and an incredibly important message.
Thanks for bringing this one to our attention, Susanna. And happy Easter to you!
I have to say, Marty, that is is almost more powerful because it is told completely through expressive pictures without a single word. It is so beautifully done. Makes me WISH I could draw! Happy Easter to you!
This PB looks amazing…the kind I want to add to my collection. I don’t think I would want to return it to the library! 🐙
I don’t think you’ll want to return it either, Susan! 🙂 It is a work of art. Such gorgeous illustrations, and such a sweet story!
PS Happy Easter to all who celebrate! ✝️
Wow! The cover is so sweet and the image of the girl and octopus under the water is amazing! With an important message, too. We need as many ocean lovers as possible so we can protect it and all of its inhabitants. This looks like a wonderful book! Thanks for the rec, Susanna.
So, so true, Jilanne! And this beautiful book is a way to share that with littlest readers. Wait until you see some of the illustrations toward the end of the books – my two favorites are back there!
Such sweet illustrations! Thanks for recommending, Susanna!
My pleasure! I was lucky enough to get and advance copy and I can’t recommend it highly enough. So beautiful, and such an important message!
I was hooked from the first picture – what a story!
Me, too, Robin! It is so incredibly well done!
The artwork looks marvelous – and leaves lots of space for kids to create the story… kindness and environmental awareness are so important!
It truly is, Sue – so amazing! And I love how it leaves room for kids to create the story and, at the same time, makes a story line clear.