Emile: The Helpful Octopus

Emile is an eight-legged hero who has twice as much courage and four times as many legs as most people - except, of course, other octopuses.

When deep-sea diver Captain Samovar is attacked by a ferocious shark, Emile comes to his aid. Grateful to his rescuer, the Captain invites him to stay at his home, where Emile sleeps in a bathtub full of salt water. Emile turns out to be a fantastic octopus: he is a gifted musician (able to play three instruments simultaneously) and a great lifeguard, teaching children to swim and saving people from drowning. One day, Emile and the Captain, who works on a police launch, encounter a suspicious-looking boat in the ocean, with a dangerous group of smugglers on board...

A charming tale of a fearless crime-fighting, eight-legged hero that will delight two-legged readers of all ages.

Age 5-8

Review:

"...One of the great fabulists and weirdoes of children's book illustration."-Wonderland

"This swashbuckling adventure featuring an intrepid octopus brings to mind two 20th-century greats: Jean de Brunhoff's "Babar" and H.A. Rey and Margret Rey's "Curious George"... Witty... Full of drama, ingenuity and friendship, Emile is great fun for readers ages 5-8."-The Wall Street Journal

"A welcome return of this captivating, ever-fresh Ungerer classic...Emile's many talents and kind green face will surely endear him to a new generation of readers."-Horn Book