ALEX AND THE SQUID

A boy is torn between his love for cephalopods and his conscience.

Alex adores books, but without money for the book fair, he feels left out. But when a book about cephalopods—his favorite animals—catches his eye at the fair, he can’t bear to leave it behind. Alex sneaks World of Cephalopods back to his classroom and then brings it home, where he pores over every page. The next day, Principal Rodriguez announces that a book from the fair is missing and invites whoever took it to return it, no questions asked. After a night of guilt-wracked dreams about a giant squid, Alex reluctantly returns the book. Luckily, the school’s perceptive, kindhearted librarian purchases World of Cephalopods for the library, allowing Alex to enjoy it anytime. Alex and his interests (both in wildlife and in drawing) are fully realized, which makes the book’s social-emotional lessons feel relatable rather than didactic. Colorful, painterly illustrations provide a dreamy, underwater effect, and Dieterlé transforms the giant squid into a character in its own right; animal lovers will certainly find an extra layer to love here. Children will enjoy spotting the subtle appearance of the creature’s tentacles, which provide a thoughtful through line for Alex’s inner world.

A sensitive, empathetic take on the moral quandaries of childhood.