by Markos Papadatos, Contributing Editor
Sy Montgomery’s new book “The Octopus Scientists: Exploring the Mind of a Mollusk” from the “Scientists in the Field Series” will be released on May 26, and it is a stellar scientific text.
The photographs by award-winning underwater photographer Keith Ellenbogen are absolutely brilliant, and they help bring the book to life; moreover, book’s syntax is impressive. Montgomery introduces her readers to the “Octopus Team,” which include professor Jennifer Mather, professor David Scheel, professor Tatiana Leite and interpretive specialist Keely Langford, and she subsequently shares neat facts on octopuses in “An Octet of Octo Facts.” It takes place in French Polynesia, and one of the most interesting chapters is Chapter 3, which deals with how smart an octopus may be, and the follow-up chapter explores how one can make friends with an octopus.
Equally insightful is the segment in the book, which describes how octopuses change color and how they “put chameleons to shame,” especially since they can change their entire appearance in “one-tenth of a second.”
The Verdict
Overall, The Octopus Scientists: Exploring the Mind of a Mollusk is recommended for readers of all ages, especially elementary school children (in the upper elementary grades) since it can get them excited about life and marine science. Sy Montgomery proves that she is a gifted author who gets better with each and every book that she writes. This book on octopuses is well-written and extremely well-researched. It garners an A rating.
Readers can check out her latest The Octopus Scientists: Exploring the Mind of a Mollusk book on Amazon’s official website.
For more information on award-winning author Sy Montgomery, check out her official website.
Photo Credit: Keith Ellenbogen
