Inky's Amazing Escape: How a Very Smart Octopus Found His Way Home

by Sy Montgomery, Amy Schimler-Safford (Illustrator)

Inky had been at the New Zealand aquarium since 2014 after being taken in by a fisherman who found him at sea. Inky had been getting used to his new environment, but the staff quickly figured out that he had to be kept amused or he would get bored. Then one night in 2016 Inky, about the size of a basketball, decided he'd had enough. He slithered eight feet across the floor and down a drainpipe more than 160 feet long to his home in the sea.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals, Science, Childrens, Nature, Environment

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 25, 2018

About the author

Part Indiana Jones, part Emily Dickinson, as the Boston Globe describes her, Sy Montgomery is an author, naturalist, documentary scriptwriter, and radio commentator who has traveled to some of the worlds most remote wildernesses for her work. She has worked in a pit crawling with 18,000 snakes in Manitoba, been hunted by a tiger in India, swum with pink dolphins in the Amazon, and been undressed by an orangutan in Borneo. She is the author of 13 award-winning books, including her national best-selling memoir, The Good Good Pig. Montgomery lives in Hancock, New Hampshire.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Led by his insatiable sense of curiosity about the ocean around him, Inky the octopus was an explorer from the day he hatched. When an injury led him to crawl into a lobster trap, the octopine creature found himself hauled up onto land, and taken to New Zealand's National Aquarium, in Wellington. Here he recovered, enjoying his time with the games and puzzles given to him by the staff. Eventually though, his natural inquisitiveness led him to explore once again, and he discovered a way to escape, and make his way home to the sea...

As someone who adores all things octopode, I remember when Inky and his escape was on the news, back in 2016, and how wonderful I thought it was, that this clever creature made such a successful break for freedom. As is so often the case, truth is stranger (and more wondrous) than fiction. Picking this book up, I though how delightful it was that author Sy Montgomery, who wrote The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness , should be the one to present this story to the picture-book set! Her narrative is engaging and informative, and is paired with charming mixed-media illustrations from Amy Schimler-Safford. An afterword gives more information, as well as a (very brief) list of further reading ideas. All in all, an excellent work of picture-book natural history, recommended to all young animals and nature lovers.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

We really enjoyed this one. Kids asked for a second read. I did kind of wish there was a teensy bit more information in the book itself as to how exactly people knew where Inky had escaped to --did he have some sort of identification and was later found? Tracking? I didn't feel it covered this. (I looked it up online and, per National Geographic, that the keepers were able to figure out where Inky went by following his slime trail from his tank to the drain pipe.) I also felt it was a bit of a stretch to assume that Inky was completely happy in his enclosure and only escaped out of curiosity. That may be, and certainly I hope that was the case, but since he had been a wild octopus, it also seemed like maybe we shouldn't assume he was completely happy with life in captivity. I didn't understand why he wasn't released back to the wild after he was rehabilitated? Again, perhaps there was a good reason for that, but I do think it should have been explained. Still, overall, this is a fun, interesting and informative read and has many things going for it. Love the focus on children and octopuses both being curious and eager for adventure. Also love the gentle humor -- like e the moment where the lobster-man finds Inky and says, "What have we here?" and Inky, seeing a human for the first time, thinks the same thing ;-) It's always fascinating to me that a creature so solitary in the wild appears to show such emotion with humans. And so amazing to think that an octopus could put LEGO blocks together! (And makes me so glad I have never eaten octopus!)

[Harlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very first nonfiction! Educational

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a great true story, lack of careful editing detracts. The first time it says, “one arm, two arms...” there is an extra comma and it actually reads: “one, arm, two arms...”
Also, a lot is made of the damaged two legs, but few of the illustrations show it very well - the first time it’s shown it is hard to even tell which two arms are hurt; in another two page spread the end of the legs are in the gutter, so the reader can’t even see the damaged legs.
The other detail that bothers me is that Inky at a lobster yet was supposedly smaller than a baseball. He may have been that size, but even as an adult, I need more explanation for that.
UPDATE: Now that I’ve shared this book with a number of library classes, I’m changing my rating from 2 to 4 stars. Students really liked learning about Inky, especially finding out it really happened. I still have the above-mentioned issues, but overall, it is a worthwhile read and purchase.

[Chance Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic text tells the true story of an octopus that found himself in the aquarium and then escaped. Inky and the people are done in an Eric Carle-esque style. The fisherman, especially, looks like he fell out of A House for Hermit Crab.

The layout of the illustrations feels unfocused at times. For instance, one illustration focuses on a worker in the aquarium giving Inky a crab. Her whole body and face are visible, and she's not very detailed. We never see this character again, and Inky, our focal point, is lost in the periphery. Also, at the end, there is a vertical spread forcing you to turn the book, which is very wide, on its side. And why? The verticality adds nothing to an illustration that would have been just as effective in landscape orientation. The next spread is horizontal (so turn the book back), and the spread after that is of indeterminable orientation. It shows Inky escaping through pipes, and the subsequent spread says he went "down, down, and down," which implies it was, in fact, a vertical spread that preceded it (turn back to the previous page, flip the book, then turn the page and flip the book again, then flip the book right out the window!)

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful book! This tells the story of inky, an intelligent escape artist octopus. This is illustrated, with the freedom of telling a story to preschoolers, unlike many of Montgomery’s books. However, this is nonfiction with articles about Inky’s escape as well as nonfiction for older kids. This would be a perfect book to read before a visit to an aquarium or just for a primary grade story time. Highly recommended!

[A Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like animals being kept in captivity. As soon as he was rehabilitated, Inky should've been released. Since this book did not partner with an aquarium like Erin Guendelsberger's book "Inky the Octopus", I was hoping Montgomery would sugar-coat captivity less but alas this book missed the mark for me. I do, however, like that Montgomery covers how Inky was injured and then ended up at the aquarium, which Guendelsberger had skipped. I appreciated the extra information, although parts of this book seemed long for the age group I work with. Montgomery also tells us that Inky was the size of a baseball when he arrived but that he was as big as a soccer ball when he escaped. Although I don't like animals being kept in aquariums, I liked that Montgomery talks about Inky playing with Legos and Mr. Potato Head because this makes Inky more relate-able to my students and also shows that the aquarium staff was trying to give Inky engaging materials while he was in captivity at least.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This brief story in picture book format is based on a real octopus, who was caught in a lobster trap (after eating the lobster), and transported to a New Zealand aquarium, where he lived for an unspecified amount of time. Then he managed to escape the tank, squeeze through a drainage pipe, and plop back into the Pacific Ocean. I thought it was fascinating that Inky, as the aquarium staff called him, loved to play with Legos and a Mr. Potato Head. The author's endnote tells a bit more about Inky and octopuses in general. There is also a page of "8 Fun Octopus Facts," a brief bibliography, and some websites. The mixed media collages did a great job of depicting Inky's story.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book engaged students from grades 1 to 5 this week. I love how it combines narrative with all kinds of information about octopi. With the older groups we had interesting conversations about how the author would have had to learn a lot about octopi to imagine what Inky's life was like before he was captured. Since reading this book and realizing just how smart these animals are, I'm not sure I will be able to eat octopus again.

[Aliza Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best picture book about Inky I’ve read! Sy Montgomery is a master storyteller while slipping in plenty of facts about octopuses. Moments of wonder, surprise, and humor bring this narrative nonfiction to life. Great back matter with more facts and resources.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The true story of the octopus that escaped a New Zealand aquarium and became an intrernational sensation. Exceptional illustrations by Amy Schimler-Safford

[Jessica Calaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book is recommended for Reading age 3 - 6 years, I suggest actually waiting till 8ish. The reason being the books has thick text block and a lot of information, which might be harder for a younger child to read alone.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book I’ve read about Inky this year. I love the illustrations and the backstory on Inky. I think my favorite is the rhyming The Escape Artist because the picture and poem both reflect the whimsy of an octopus so clever. But this one was really good too.

[DiAnne Warfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holt-Delhi PJ story time 06-22-2022

[LG · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading about Inky in 2016, when he escaped from the aquarium. I love the idea that Inky found his way back to the ocean.

This book differs slightly from what I read in the news articles. From what I remember, there was video of Inky exploring at night. The book suggests he left the first night he started exploring.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inky’s Amazing Escape: How a Very Smart Octopus Found His Way Home by Sy Montgomery, illustrated by Amy Schimler-Safford. PICTURE BOOK. Simon & Schuster, 2018. $18. 9781534401914

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Inky was born in the ocean. He suffers an injury and is found by a fisherman in New Zealand. He is taken to an aquarium to heal and grow. His curiosity leads him to escaping back home into the ocean.

Such a cute story and so much information about octopi. I did not realize until the end that this was based off a real story where the octopus escaped back into the ocean. I think kids will love Inky and his adventures along with all the fun facts about octopi.

SLM
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than "Inky's Great Escape," which was heavily fictionalized. I gave that one 4 stars - extra for the illustrations - so I feel like I need to give this one 4 stars as well because it was based on the facts. And the Mr. Potato Head eyes on the starfish made me laugh. Not sure if that was entirely true, but oh well. As much as I liked the illustrations here, I have a couple of quibbles:

1. Half the time I couldn't tell which two tentacles had been injured.
2. The text says that he was the size of a baseball when found, but the picture makes him look as big as the fisherman's head.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting children’s narrative nonfiction book about a clever octopus named, Inky.

[Kyra Nay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Injured by an eel as a young octopus, Inky was rescued by a fisherman after he crawled into a lobster trap. The fisherman took the octopus to a local aquarium, where Inky’s injuries healed. Inky enjoyed life at the aquarium – he turned red with excitement when he saw the keepers, then white with relaxation when they pet him. He explored everything the keepers gave him – dried corals, pots, and jars. But one night, with the cover to his tank left unsecured, Inky escaped, exploring the aquarium until he discovered a drain in the floor. He inched his way through the pipes, making it all the way back to the ocean. Inky is a real octopus – his dramatic escape from a New Zealand aquarium in 2016 made international news!

As the endnote explains, octopuses are famously curious animals – they love to explore. An octopus in England kept sneaking into other tanks, eating some of the fish, before returning to his own tank, befuddling the aquarium staff. With the cheerful, mixed media illustrations, I think this book would work well in family or preschool storytime – kids will get a kick seeing Inky play with toys like LEGO and a Mr. Potato Head.

Backmatter includes the endnote, 8 fun octopus facts (a 100 lb. octopus can fit through an opening the size of an orange!), and suggestions for further reading.

[Fromwordstoworlds · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 2014 a common New Zealand octopus having two bitten tentacles was caught in a lobsterman's fishing cage. The man donated it to the National Aquarium in Wellington.

"The aquarium keeper saw the octopus's hurt arms. You'll be safe with us! she told the octopus, and poured him into a tank. She named him Inky, because when they are scared, octopuses can squirt ink. But the little octopus wasn't scared. He was ready to explore. He felt and tasted the glass and all the corners with his slippery, bendy arms and his strong suckers. He crawled to the top of the tank and looked up at the keeper. She handed him his favourite snack: a yummy crab."

Inky lived at the aquarium for two years until one night, when one of the keeper's forgot to completely close the lid of the tank, he decided to leave. His escape made Inky worldwide famous. First through a small gap, out of his tank, then sliding along the floor, then through a drain hole back into the Pacific Ocean.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sy Montgomery tells the story of Inky from birth to "escape", one based on a real Inky that includes much about octopus lives, how they begin no bigger than a grain of rice, but are sent out into the world to survive by themselves! Those suckers help them feel and taste and are strong enough to pull a clam apart! Inky's story parallels other octopuses in the world of aquariums. They can squeeze into or through amazingly tiny spaces. More is included in an end note with a page of other fascinating facts about octopuses. Amy Schimler-Safford's pages are filled with details, of the ocean creatures Inky encounters and eats or hides from along with the later adventure in an aquarium. I enjoyed it very much, know it would be a great pairing with the recent book by Irene Latham, "Love, Agnes".

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The engaging narrative text and the gorgeous illustrations come together to make a terrific nonfiction picture book that tells the story of a real-life octupus' escape from a New Zealand aquarium. Young readers will be fascinated by the details of Inky's life in the Pacific Ocean before he was caught in a lobster trap and brought to the aquarium. Inky's treatment at the aquarium was very good and he was happy, but lobsters are very curious and adventurous. And so when someone forgot to latch his tank properly, Inky was able to get away. At the end of the story there is an author's note, a set of interesting octopus facts, and a list of resources for further research. This is a terrific nonfiction resource to have on any bookshelf.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Montgomery brings her research knowledge and fascination with octopuses to young readers in this charming picture book. She incorporates octopus facts and information into a fascinating story about a real life octopus rescued by a fisherman after being injured. Inky lived 2 years in the National Aquarium in New Zealand before one night escaping down a floor drain back into the sea.

Lovely and humorous illustration by Amy Schimler-Safford are done in mixed media and collage. Well done back matter includes additional information about Inky and the the insatiable curiosity of the octopus species.

[Ruth Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sy Montgomery is an accomplished author of non-fiction for children. Here she has written a story based on true events, of Inky, a curious octopus. Inky end up in a lobster trap and the fisherman that trapped him took him to the aquarium. With careful and clear text, Montgomery writes a fascinating story of a real octopus who has an amazing escape from the aquarium. The colorful and appealing illustrations make this a delightful tale for ages 4 - 8. An endnote explains how octopuses are 'fabulous escape artists.' The author also includes '8 Fun Octopus Facts' and suggestions for further reading. A photograph of Inky is on the back cover. Highly recommended. A great STEM selection.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nonfiction-flavored picture book about a Common New Zealand Octopus named Inky. Trapped in a lobster cage, Inky is brought to the local aquarium, where he lives until his great escape back to the Pacific Ocean. Inky is surprisingly expressive in the illustrations. I would definitely booktalk this title at school visits. Kids are sure to find it amusing that Inky liked to play with LEGO blocks and Mr. Potato Head at the aquarium. Back matter adds authenticity to the story, and there's a photo of Inky on the back of the book!

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story of an octopus's curiosity, and where it led him. A few times.

I liked the Interesting Endnote that made sure to explain that Inky didn't necessarily escape because he was unhappy - he probably just wanted to see where the pipe went. Zoos and aquariums have come so far in the ways they provide enrichment to their animals, especially the ones that are unlikely to thrive in the wild, that it makes me sad when people just dismiss them as putting the animals on display for entertainment.

[Olivia S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, although not really a story per se. I found it pretty readable and entertaining, though, and enjoyed the blend of fiction and non-fiction. I'd definitely recommend this book, and might display it (octopus display!), but wouldn't use it for a storytime. Definitely better suited for older kids. Includes some interesting real-life details at the end. Although it details Inky's escape, I wouldn't call this entirely vegan, as it still supports the idea that captivity is a good place for animals. Overall, pretty good. 7-8+

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations of the undersea world add depth to this fascinating story about the amazing life of Inky the octopus and the intelligence, curiosity, and ingenuity that freed the clever creature from captivity. Interesting Endnote, 8 Fun Octopus Facts, and Suggestions for Further Reading provide plenty of options for story-time learning opportunities. Check out the photo of Inky, taken at the National Aquarium of New Zealand, on the back cover.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inky, a young octopus, rescued from a lobster trap makes an amazing escape from the National Aquarium in New Zealand. Sy Montgomery tells the story, beautifully illustrated by Amy Schimler-Safford. Full of interesting facts about the octopus - skillfully dropped into the story as well as a "fun facts" page and end notes. A great introduction for a younger child about to study sea life, or who wants to get an octopus for their aquarium.

[Bmack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book about a young octopus who gets caught in a crab trap, taken to an aquarium because of previous injuries, lives there happily until he escapes one night out the drain back to the ocean. It is based on a true story and kids will enjoy this picture book full of facts and adventure for this octopus. The illustrations are done with mixed media and beautiful colors.