{"id":28106,"date":"2015-08-03T22:21:55","date_gmt":"2015-08-04T02:21:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=28106"},"modified":"2015-08-03T22:24:16","modified_gmt":"2015-08-04T02:24:16","slug":"review-of-the-octopus-scientists-by-sy-montgomery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=28106","title":{"rendered":"Review of The Octopus Scientists, by Sy Montgomery"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"octopus_scientists_large\"<\/a>The Octopus Scientists<\/p>\n

Exploring the Mind of a Mollusk<\/em><\/p>\n

Text by Sy Montgomery
\nPhotographs by Keith Ellenbogen<\/p>\n

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, 2015. 72 pages.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

The Octopus Scientists<\/em> is part of the extraordinary Scientists in the Field<\/em> series. As with The Tapir Scientist<\/a><\/em>, Sy Montgomery puts herself in the story, telling us all about her two-week visit with a team of octopus scientists, what they were studying, and what they found.<\/p>\n

In this case, the team of four scientists was searching for octopuses \u2013 to study where they live, what they eat, and even their personalities (bold or more cautious).
\nAmong other interesting facts I learned, it turns out that octopuses<\/em> is correct, not octopi<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Though many people still use this plural, octopus experts deem it incorrect because it mixes up two languages. Octopus<\/em> is a Greek word meaning \u201ceight-footed.\u201d Adding i<\/em> to the end of a singular noun is a Latin practice. The correct plural is octopuses,<\/em> or octopods.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Most of this book addresses the biggest challenge: simply finding the octopuses, who are experts at hiding. But the team is very successful, and besides scientific results and information, because of this Keith Ellenbogen got an abundance of colorful, stunning photographs of octopuses and other sea creatures in the crystal clear water among the coral reefs.<\/p>\n

I love the way the books in the Scientists in the Field<\/em> series show what actual scientists do \u2013 including days of fruitless searching. It includes the difficulties they encounter and the mixed results as well as the triumphs and the new information gained.<\/p>\n

Along the way, readers learn a plethora of facts about octopuses, and these facts are told as background in an engaging story, so they won\u2019t quickly be forgotten.<\/p>\n

This book may well inspire many future marine biologists. And the rest of us will marvel at the intelligence and beauty of the humble octopus. I had no idea they can change color more effectively than a chameleon, yet are colorblind themselves. Or that they can figure out how to open different kinds of latches. Or\u2026 This is definitely a book you should read yourself to find out more.<\/p>\n

sciencemeetsadventure.com<\/a>
\nhmhco.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Nonfiction\/octopus_scientists.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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