We'll Paint the Octopus Red [Hardcover]

Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen (Author), S. A. Bodeen (Author), Pam DeVito (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

As six-year-old Emma anticipates the birth of her new baby brother or sister, she vividly imagines all of the things they can do together. Emma feels ready to be a big sister! Then when the baby is born, her dad tells her that it's a boy and he has something called Down syndrome. Finally she asks, "If Isaac has this Down thing, then what can't he do?". Her dad thinks about it, then tells her that as long as they are patient with him, and help him when he needs it, there probably isn't anything Isaac can't do. In this touching story, Emma helps her father as much as he helps her to realise that Isaac is the baby they dreamed of. The book concludes with a set of commonly asked questions about Down syndrome with answers for children and how it might affect their sibling and family. For ages 3-7.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Emma isn't happy to learn that she will soon be a big sister. After talking with her father, however, she thinks of "at least a million things my new brother or sister could do with me," and she eagerly awaits her sibling's arrival. When Isaac is born, the family is confronted with the fact that he has Down Syndrome. Emma's father explains that Isaac will still be able to do all of the things that Emma has thought of; he will just do them at a slower pace. The story ends on a high note with an excited Emma and her father visiting Isaac and her mother in the hospital. A well-thought-out question-and-answer section completes this bibliotherapeutic title. Although the artwork lacks the warmth of the text and Emma's skin tone and hair color are inconsistently portrayed, this is an appropriate title for parenting collections or as an additional purchase for children's collections.
Lisa Gangemi Krapp, Sousa Elementary School, Port Washington, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 4^-7. What starts as a regular new-baby story takes an unexpected twist. The young redheaded narrator is at first displeased with the idea of a new sibling but then has lots of ideas about what they might do together. She will take the baby to her grandfather's farm and feed the calves. Her father says they can do that when the baby is older. She will teach the baby to paint. Her father says they can do that when the baby is older. She will take the baby to Africa on a photo safari. Her father says fine, but only if he can go, too. After the girl and her father are finished talking, she says, "We'd thought of at least a million things my new brother or sister could do with me." Then, Father comes home with the news that baby Isaac has been born with Down syndrome. Her father is upset, but as the girl asks her questions all over again, they both see that although it may take a little longer and require more patience, they can't find one of those million things that Isaac won't be able to do with their help. The fine text gets right to a child's level of understanding, and the positive messages of acceptance and helping may best be understood by children this age. An appended question-and-answer spread, written at a child's level, tells what Down syndrome is, why some babies have it, and why parents may feel sad when the baby is born. Ink-and-watercolor pictures, while not expertly executed, do exude a warm feeling that matches the story. Although the book skirts some issues that Isaac may face (e.g., intolerance, illness), this is a thoughtful, focused book that will be of enormous help to families with Down syndrome children. Ilene Cooper

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 25 pages
• Publisher: Woodbine House; 1 edition (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890627062
• ISBN-13: 978-1890627065
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 10.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,535 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Illness
  • #92 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Special Needs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WE'LL PAINT THE OCTOPUS RED IS WONDERFUL., July 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: We'll Paint the Octopus Red (Hardcover)

WE'LL PAINT THE OCTOPUS RED WAS A WONDERFUL BOOK. MY SON HAS DOWNS SYNDROME. HE IS NOW 18 HE ENJOYED READING THE BOOK. HE READ IT TO 3 CHILDERN WHO HAVE A BROTHER 7 MONTHS OLD WHO HAS DOWNS SYNDROME. I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD BE AS CONSERNED AS EMMA.THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL BOOK.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Insightful Story Simply Told, April 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: We'll Paint the Octopus Red (Hardcover)

I originally purchased We'll Paint the Octopus Red to help me explain Down Syndrome to my older daughter when my younger daughter was born: the whys and how comes the little one needed more attention. The story is simply told. The only child will now become an older child. She and her younger sibling will have so much fun together, her dad advises. But on the day that the baby is born, the dad is sad and tells his daughter that the baby has Down Syndrome. The daughter, in her innocence, carefully reviews all the plans that her dad said she could do with her baby brother. After each example, the dad advises that they could still do the activity with a little patience. Slowly, the daughter teaches the dad and the reader that children with Down Syndrome can do almost anything with love, patience, understanding and the opportunity to try. The book not only gave guidance to my husband and me, but also was helpful in breaking down old stereotypes and ideas held by our parents.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars MUCH better than Maria Shriver's story, July 11, 2002

By 

Alice Fielding "kangarunitarian" (Norman, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: We'll Paint the Octopus Red (Hardcover)

This is a great, simple, accurate, sweet book about a little girl who has a brother with Down syndrome. It explains that kids with Down syndrome need more time and patience, but they all can learn to do the things other kids do. I highly recommend this book to kids with Down syndrome and their siblings, friends, neighbors and relatives. It's good on its own and as an alternative to What's Wrong With Timmy?, a book that covers the same topic in a much less appealing manner.