kelleemoye's review

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4.0

Full review including teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=14875

Although Inky’s Great Escape is a fictionalized version of the events that happened at the National Aquarium of New Zealand in 2016, if you go and research about the escape, you’ll learn that the Inky truly is one incredible octopus! Although Lyall used creative freedom to build up Inky’s backstory (he’d retired to the aquarium after many daring escapes, and only escaped from the aquarium because Blotchy challenged him), much of the escape sequence was what truly transpired when Inky made his escape. Kids will fall in love with Inky’s bravery, personality, and with his contrasting friend, Blotchy, who stayed behind. With colorful full page illustrations and two octopuses with character traits and personalities that will start conversations, Inky’s Great Escape is going to be a favorite read aloud and classroom library book in elementary classrooms (and would be a great companion to a cephalapoda discussion!).

breezyboyce94's review

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5.0

I really enjoyed this story about Inky the octopus and his tank mate Blotchy.

antsneversleep's review

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2.0

I wish this book included information about the story that inspired it.

karcitis's review

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1.0

My expectations were high for this one with a great title and colourful illustrations, but the story itself was surprisingly boring. There wasn't much put into the telling of the actual escape itself, which is really what I was there for. It's also very text heavy, which didn't help make it exciting.

minda's review

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adventurous medium-paced

3.5

ursulamonarch's review

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2.0

After having seen rave reviews, I was surprised at how unimpressed I was by this book. The illustrations are cute, and I know it's based on a (fun) true story, but the plot seemed SO forced and Blotchy and Inky's relationship remained elusive. I also realize this is a kid's book, but I don't think that makes it exempt from good storytelling!

librarianryan's review against another edition

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3.0

This is the third rendition of this story that I have read in the last three months, and all are new books. And while this one has lovely illustrations, and a lovely story, it was done better by a predecessor.

melerihaf's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 rounded up
I was excited to read it because octopi are so ridiculously smart that there have been amazing octopus escapes from aquariums. But the "mostly true" part didn't really come into the story, which was disappointing. Cute enough, but not true enough.
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