Kids book about a little octopus?

February 12, 2012 6:42 PM

Old children's book about a little octopus... anyone?

I'm trying to find a favorite book from my childhood:
- a little octopus trying to get home
- very big illustrations, made from torn colored paper (?)... popular in the 70's

I know that is not much to go on but I'm getting nowhere with google...

posted by cgs to Grab Bag (6 answers total)

Best answer: I don't know that book exactly, but that sounds like Leo Lionni.
posted by pantarei70 at 6:52 PM on February 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'm assuming it's not "An Octopus Followed Me Home"? It's from the 90's but has a very 70's Richard Scarry-eque feel to it.
posted by dotgirl at 6:53 PM on February 12, 2012

Could it be I Was All Thumbs by Bernard Waber? Not torn paper, but largish simple illustrations and the story sorta fits. It was published in 1975, which sorta fits your timeline.
posted by Knicke at 8:12 PM on February 12, 2012

Best answer: Is it possible that you're thinking of Herman the Helper? He goes around helping his friends and family before ending up at home for dinner. It was published in the '80s though.
posted by machinecraig at 5:46 AM on February 13, 2012

Horace the Friendly Octopus?
posted by essexjan at 10:15 AM on February 13, 2012

Response by poster: Wow... go MF! The book was definitely Herman the Helper, but, in my head, it was done by Leo Lionni... both of which were way behind the edge of my memory. Thank you! :-)
posted by cgs at 2:09 PM on February 13, 2012