why octopus?

I am often asked how we pick our themes, so I thought it might be interesting to share that with you!

For the last three of years, we have dedicated our Spring editions to the creatures of the oceans. We explored Corals, Sharks, Whales and this year, it's Octopuses we are worshipping.

Here is what made us fall in love with the brainiacs of the seas:

Watching the beautiful documentary My Octopus Teacher (Netflix) telling the story of a friendship between a diver and an octopus. 

Browsing through the excellent Public Domain Review and coming across these incredible 19th-Century plates, 

Talking to our friend Ellie, who is a diver and who has regaled us with many octo-encounters. Follow her underwater adventures here. 

Reading Other Minds by Peter Godfrey-Smith, and The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery, books that delve deep into the intelligence of cephalopods.

The memory of reading 20,000 Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne when I was a child. 

I hope these will inspire you and your children to find out more about these complex and beautiful creatures. 

Cathy x