The Octopus

Written by Denys Cazet

Narrated by John Beach

"Poor Barney! He's got chicken pox, and it's up to Grandapa Spanielson's to distract his "grand-pup" with some anti-itch stories.... The narration is enhanced by sound effects of sword fighting (with a swordfish), tension-filled music, and the "squooshing" of Grandpa doing battle with a toilet plunger. The production also includes sounds of the sea, with gulls screeching and waves crashing. Listeners will enjoy the dimension these effects add to this lively tale." -AudioFile Magazine

• Language: English
• Publisher: Live Oak Media
• Release date: Jul 31, 2008
• ISBN: 9781430124740

Denys Cazet

Denys Cazet is the author and illustrator of more than 25 picture books for children, including Never Spit On Your Shoes, winner of the California Young Readers Medal. The books about Minnie and Moo are his first for beginning readers. He was inspired to tell stories about the silly cow best-friends when he passed a herd of cows in which all but two were facing the same way. The other two stood next to each other, facing in the opposite direction from the rest of the cows. He immediately dubbed the two nonconformists Minnie and Moo and imagined the adventures two cows who were loyal friends rather than followers of the herd. Mr. Cazet is currently writing I Can Read Books featuring Elvis the Rooster from the farm on which Minnie and Moo live. Mr. Cazet was an elementary school teacher for 25 years, and has also been a school librarian and elementary school media specialist. He remains active in his local elementary school parent and advisory committees. A California native, Mr. Cazet lives with his family in the foothills of the Napa Valley.