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The Octopus Scientists: Exploring the Mind of a Mollusk

A team of five researchers, led by 69-year-old psychologist Jennifer Mather, have gathered on the island of Moorea, near Tahiti, as part of ongoing research into octopus behavior. Jennifer is interested in how octopuses think, solve problems, and develop individual personalities. Author Sy Montgomery and photographer Keith Ellenbogen have joined the group and chronicle efforts first to locate octopuses, which are accomplished masters of camouflage, and then to observe and document what the octopuses do. Four of the five researchers in the group are women, and all of them share appreciation for these intelligent, fascinating, and incredibly diverse creatures. As with other best books in the Scientists-in-the-Field series, Montgomery’s narrative introduces each scientist and chronicles the frustrations and success of their field research, in addition to aspects of octopus biology and behavior. The author’s enthusiasm for her subjects—human and octopus alike—propels a narrative of significant length accompanied by captivating color photographs. ©2015 Cooperative Children's Book Center

Illustrated by Keith Ellenbogen

CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 11 and older
Age Range: Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13) Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format: Substantial Narrative Non-Fiction
Subjects: Animals (Informational) Science and Scientists

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publish Year: 2015
Pages: 71
ISBN: 9780544232709

CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 594 Montgomery