Module Five- Cowboy & Octopus, Jon Scieszka

Scieszka, Jon. Cowboy & Octopus. New York: Viking, 2007.

Summary
Cowboy, a cowboy, and Octopus, an octopus, become friends one day because Cowboy can't ride on the seesaw alone. The two then discover that some things work better with a friend. They also learn, however, that some things do not work better with a friend- like hammering together craft projects. They also learn that you have to do things, or eat things, you don't like because they are important to your friend, and friends are always, always honest with each other simply because they are friends.

Impressions
This story is quirky and fun, but the illustrations really make it exciting. The illustrations are collages of mixed media- vintage pictures, photographs, kitchen untensils, a head of lettuce, etc.-and make the story at the same time both crazy and real. Even though Cowboy has the same expression on his face the entire time, the other elements in the illustrations make him personable and you actually believe he is friends with an octopus. Likewise, Octopus always wears the same expression and pose, but the way he is positioned, dressed up, and mingled with other objects makes him seem like he really could be eating Cowboy's baked beans.
This book is completely original and appeals to both young children and teenagers. The friendship is sincere, the jokes are actually funny, and the art is bold and fun.

Reviews
MrMarshal1. Video Book Review #1- Cowboy and Octopus. Accessed September 20, 2010 from youtube.com.



Publishers Weekly. Children's Book Reviews: Week of 7/16/2007. Accessed September 20, 2010 from http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childens/childrens-book-news/article/13974-children-s-book-reviews-week-of-7-16-2007-.html.
"Scieszka and Smith (Math Curse) unpack a bin of old toys and comics for this characteristically oddball entry. Their title page, which depicts a pair of scissors beside a sheet of Western Heroes paper dolls and an undersea comic book, reveals the origins of Cowboy and Octopus—both are paper cutouts that pose the same way throughout this episodic volume. Blond, cinematic Cowboy wears pressed jeans tucked into fancy boots and a fringed paisley shirt suitable for the rodeo. Sky-blue Octopus, with a tangle of tentacles, is shaded with pre-digital lavender dots. After cooperating to ride a seesaw, they shake hands, and shake hands, and shake hands a total of eight times, cementing their friendship...Greeting-card sentiments about friendship, punctuated by classic cowboy-isms dot the text. Those who love Scieszka and Smith's absurd humor will get the joke, but this is a lesser entry in the pair's pantheon. All ages."

Suggestions for Library Use
Cowboy & Octopus would be a super fun book for a storytime for younger or older children on how to be a good friend and what friends do for each other simply because they love each other. For older children, it could also be an example of innovative/non-traditional illustration techniques. The children could then try their hand at collages to illustrate well-known stories or even stories of their own.