"You don't like to get dressed in the morning? It's a good thing you're not an octopus. If you were an octopus, you would have eight legs to put in your pants!"

The world of small children is filled with day-in, day-out challenges and tiresome activities. If someone's not telling you to get dressed, they're making you eat lunch, climb into the car seat, or take a nap. However, young humans should count their blessings. Baby birds have to eat worms for lunch. Tigers may not ever have to climb into a bathtub, but that's because their mothers are always licking them clean! And imagine being a shark when it comes time to brush your teeth--all 200 of them. Julie Markes hits her mark with this clever picture book, which will probably make at least a few human children appreciate their relatively simple daily routines (at least when compared to shoeless caterpillars). Maggie Smith's playful, detailed illustrations bring every character to life, with continually changing expressions even on the faces of the protagonist's many stuffed animals. Smith's artistic humor, combined with Markes's wise, wonderful text, will make this a favorite among kids and their parents, who may even want to expand and personalize the game for their own daily skirmishes. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter


From Publishers Weekly
First-time author Markes serves up a bit of inventive psychology for dealing with an uncooperative child in this subtle picture book. The unseen caretaker of a preschooler with a penchant for eschewing any idea of a daily routine presents the boy with alternate scenarios that make his own lot seem palatable. As the pajama-clad protagonist grins from beneath his bed covers, the narrative reads, "You don't like to get dressed in the morning?/ It's a good thing you're not an octopus./ If you were an octopus, you would have eight legs to put in your pants!" The boy then envisions an octopus struggling to get dressed on the bed next to him. Similar scenes unfold as the boy realizes that being himself--and doing what's asked of him--is better than being any of the animal characters he imagines. In a simple question-and-answer format, Markes addresses a common and frustrating challenge for parents and suggests a disarming, nonconfrontational solution. Smith (There's a Witch Under the Stairs) uses a crisp watercolor palette to depict a realistic setting filled with child-friendly touches (car seat, bright toys and books) and lots of humor. (Don't miss the shark brushing its teeth.) Ages 3-6. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
PreSchool-A delightful romp with a little boy who is reluctant to do those daily activities that are part of a preschooler's learning experience. As readers follow him and his stuffed frog through the day, comparisons to various animals are drawn. As he struggles to get dressed, the narrative reads, "If you were an octopus, you would have eight legs to put in your pants!" The accompanying illustration shows an exasperated octopus looking troubled at his attempt to accomplish this feat. Other comparisons include a caterpillar trying to put on 16 shoes, a shark brushing 200 teeth, and a bear having to nap all winter long. All conclude with the refrain, "It's a good thing you're not a-." In the end, the preschooler's challenges are summed up with "It's a good thing you're you!" Just enough science information for preschoolers to absorb is presented simply and entertainingly and Smith's watercolor illustrations in bright, bold colors are whimsical and charming. The ridiculousness of the animals in the boy's situation will not be lost on this age group and will prompt laughter all around.Patti Gonzales, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Ages 3-5. Like many young children, the little boy in this picture book has evidently protested against taking a nap, riding in his car seat, brushing his teeth, and so on. The sensible text answers his complaints through comparison. "You don't like to get dressed in the morning? / It's a good thing you're not an octopus. / If you were an octopus, you would have eight legs to put in your pants." The three accompanying illustrations show a pajama-clad child as his mother hands him his clothes, an octopus in the wild, and the same octopus looking a bit worried as he sits beside the child and attempts to put on many-legged pants. Children will enjoy the visual humor, which juxtaposes the familiar and the bizarre to achieve the silliness that preschoolers best appreciate. Warm, rich colors brighten the line-and-watercolor illustrations. Fun to read aloud. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
It"s a good thing you're not anoctopus!If you were an octopus, you would have eight legs to put into your pants!Follow one little boy through his day as he playfully considers how mealtime, bath time, nap time, and many other activities would be different if he were a bird, a tiger, or any number of baby animals. At the end of the day he realizes that the best thing of all is to be himself!Julie Markes's first picture book is charmingly illustrated by Maggie Smith.


Card catalog description
A little boy finds that his life is pretty easy compared to how it might be.


About the Author
Julie Markes, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, has worked as a photographer for the Los Angeles Times and the Associated Press. A former world traveler, she now finds her inspiration much closer to her home in New York City, where she lives with her husband, Eric Schine, and their sons, Charlie and Nicholas. Good Thing You're Not an Octopus! is her first book for children.

ANNOTATION

A little boy finds that his life is pretty easy compared to how it might be.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Follow one little boy through his day as he playfully considers how mealtime, bath time, nap time, and many other activities would be different if he was a bird, a tiger a shark, or any number of baby animals. At the end of the day, he realizes that the best thing to be is himself!

About the Authors:
This is Julie Markes's first book for children. She lives in New York City.

Maggie Smith is the author and illustrator of several books for children. She lives in New York City.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature

Reasoning with a toddler can be a bit like banging one's head against the wall, especially in matters concerning the things that everyone must do to get through the day. Activities such as getting dressed, taking care of personal hygiene or feeding one's self can become all-day battles. With the help of some fuzzy animal friends and some clever comparisons, the author clearly illustrates to one little boy just how good he has it compared to the cuddly creatures he could be. This would be a great laugh-together book for children to share with their parents as they struggle with the day-to-day tasks of becoming self-reliant kids. 2001, HarperCollins, $14.95 and $14.89. Ages 2 to 5. Reviewer: Trina Heidt

School Library Journal

PreS-A delightful romp with a little boy who is reluctant to do those daily activities that are part of a preschooler's learning experience. As readers follow him and his stuffed frog through the day, comparisons to various animals are drawn. As he struggles to get dressed, the narrative reads, "If you were an octopus, you would have eight legs to put in your pants!" The accompanying illustration shows an exasperated octopus looking troubled at his attempt to accomplish this feat. Other comparisons include a caterpillar trying to put on 16 shoes, a shark brushing 200 teeth, and a bear having to nap all winter long. All conclude with the refrain, "It's a good thing you're not a-." In the end, the preschooler's challenges are summed up with "It's a good thing you're you!" Just enough science information for preschoolers to absorb is presented simply and entertainingly and Smith's watercolor illustrations in bright, bold colors are whimsical and charming. The ridiculousness of the animals in the boy's situation will not be lost on this age group and will prompt laughter all around.-Patti Gonzales, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

PLB: 0-06-028466-8 First-time author Markes's impish tale will tickle tiny funny bones. Burdensome tasks seem a lot less onerous to a young boy when he considers the alternatives. Focusing on mundane happenings in a toddler's typical day, Markes touches on a host of classic toddler power struggles: getting dressed, submitting to the confines of a car seat, and the dreaded bedtime, with its attendant traumas of brushing teeth and taking a bath. However, a quick peek at the animal kingdom provides the recalcitrant tot with all the motivation he needs to determine that the grass is greener on his side of the fence. Loathe naptime? Just think, Markes cautions readers,"If you were a bear, you would have to nap all winter long!" Preschoolers will delight in the unabashedly silly animal/human comparisons, and may even learn a little something too. For instance, donning one pair of shoes seems a breeze in comparison to a caterpillar's whopping 16 tootsies that would need to be shod. Smith's (Dear Daisy, Get Well Soon, 2000, etc.) lighthearted, full-color illustrations provide a perfect comic counterpart to the outlandish tale. Each topic culminates in a full-bleed, two-page illustration depicting both the human and animal youngsters engaged in similar activities, with uproariously funny results. A wonderfully droll way to diffuse toddler tantrums, this should be tucked into every diaper bag. (Picture book. 3-6)