Written & Illustrated by Eric Velasquez
Read by Shermona Mitchell
Reader’s Theatre Script Adapted by Wilysha Walton

Nov. 1, 2020 - Feb. 28, 2021

Grades: K-5

Superhero-loving Ramsey and his grandmother are in for a giant adventure when they attempt to cook up a family favorite, octopus stew. Based on the is-it-true-or-isn’t-it family lore of author Eric Velasquez, this tall tale celebrates Afro-Latino heritage, family traditions, and a whole lotta ingenuity.

“Blimp, Blump, Brr, Blimp, Blump, Brr. What could that be?”

What do you do when an octopus captures Grandma? You put on your superhero cape and rescue her, of course! Ramsey and his trusty chihuahua, Chana, are on the case when Grandma’s octopus stew goes wrong and Señor Pulpo gets so big he takes over the whole kitchen. This vibrant, comic book-inspired story of an Afro-Latino family coming together to share tall tales and traditional recipes is sure to surprise and delight.

Why we chose this story: Octopus Stew celebrates the family ritual of coming together to share stories and talents across generations. We love how the story shows Ramsey’s ability to connect art and technology as he researches possibilities for dealing with a giant octopus. The story demonstrates that a fantastic tale can come from a very real beginning.

Story Kits
Book-It’s Interactive Story Kits are designed by our Arts Education department to engage students individually and as a community of readers, thinkers, and artists. Students will be able to watch a recorded read-aloud by one of our performers and then explore the story’s themes and ideas on their own or as a class through writing, movement, visual art, and theatre exercises.

Kits begin shipping on the first date listed for each title, and orders are fulfilled in the order they are received.

Workshops
Whether you want to dive into the themes of the book with a Story Adventure Workshop or tackle a special topic in a Skill Workshop, each of our interactive Workshops is a great addition to your online learning curriculum.

All Octopus Stew Workshops are held between November 17-December 18 and in February.
Story Adventure: Super Ram & the Cephalopod Squad
Skill Workshop topic: Superhero Character Creation

Workshops are available Tuesdays & Fridays, with mornings and afternoons available.
Once you’ve purchased your workshop, our Arts Education team will contact you to schedule the date and time.