Bookshop

Octomom tells the story of Dennis, a young boy who is convinced that his mother must secretly be an octopus. After all, how else could she cook meals, clean the house, answer phone calls, work, and still help him with his homework—often all at the same time? To Dennis, eight arms seem like the only logical explanation.

But beneath his amusing theory lies a quieter observation: his mother always looks tired. Dennis begins to wish that she had only two arms so she could rest more.

When Dennis and his mother move to a new city, something unexpected begins to unfold. Neighbours, friends, and family step in with small acts of help and kindness. Slowly, Dennis realizes that life does not have to depend on one person doing everything alone. Care, support, and responsibility can be shared.

Through humour, warmth, and thoughtful storytelling, Octomom gently introduces young readers to the unseen labour that often keeps a household running and encourages them to think about empathy, cooperation, and fairness within families and communities.

Why Should a Child Read This Book?

This picture book invites children to look more closely at the everyday work that happens around them—especially the work often done quietly by parents, particularly mothers.

Through Dennis’s imaginative idea of an “octopus mother,” children are able to recognize how many tasks adults manage daily. The story encourages young readers to notice effort, understand tiredness, and appreciate care that might otherwise go unnoticed.

At the same time, the book reassures children that families and communities can support one another. It presents a hopeful message: responsibilities do not have to rest on one person alone. When people share help and kindness, life becomes lighter for everyone.

For young readers, the story builds emotional awareness while showing that even small gestures—offering help, showing gratitude, or being thoughtful—can make a meaningful difference.

What Are the Learnings?

Empathy and awareness
Children begin to understand the invisible labour that often happens at home and learn to appreciate the effort that caregivers put into daily life.

Shared responsibility
The story introduces the idea that household work and care should not fall on just one person. Responsibilities can be shared within families and communities.

Understanding gender roles
In an age-appropriate way, the book raises early awareness of how certain types of work are often expected from mothers, encouraging children to question and reflect on these patterns.

Community support
Dennis’s experience in a new city shows that kindness and cooperation from neighbours and friends can create a supportive environment.

Critical thinking
By blending imagination with everyday realities, the book gently prompts children to observe, question, and think about fairness and care in their surroundings.

How to Use This Picture Book

1. Start conversations about everyday work
After reading the story, ask children to list the different tasks they see adults doing at home. This helps them recognize the range of work involved in daily life.

2. Encourage gratitude and participation
Use the story as a starting point to talk about helping at home—simple actions like tidying toys, setting the table, or assisting with small chores.

3. Discuss fairness in responsibilities
Teachers and parents can guide children in thinking about how work can be shared in a family so that no one person feels overwhelmed.

4. Connect imagination with reality
Ask children: If your parent had eight arms, what would they do? Then shift the conversation to how real people manage many responsibilities without “extra arms.”

5. Community and kindness activities
In classrooms or libraries, children can talk about ways neighbours, friends, and relatives help each other. This encourages them to see care as something that exists beyond the home.

6. Creative exercises
Children can draw their own “octomom” or “octoparent,” illustrating all the different things that person does in a day. This reinforces the story’s central theme in a playful way.