Jump into an underwater tour of the whole cephalopod class with Grimpy the dumbo octopus! He knows all about what makes these saltwater-dwelling, many-armed invertebrates so special. But when Grimpy gets caught up in everything his kind of octopus can’t do, the other cephalopods decide to show him why it’s great to be a dumbo.
I’m a Dumbo Octopus : A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods is filled with special cephalopod characters like cuttlefish, nautiluses, octopuses, and squids. Debut graphic novelist Anne Lambelet joins us today to share how she began her journey as an author and illustrator, why marine life fascinates her so much, and more! Keep reading for a sneak peek into the book.
When did you first start writing and illustrating books?
I think I probably wrote and illustrated my first book when I was about five years old. Since before I can remember, I’ve been making up stories and drawing pictures to go along with them. It was my favorite thing to do then and it still is today. However, my first published book, Maria the Matador. came out much later, in 2019, and I’ve been working as a professional author-illustrator since then.
Did you read a lot of graphic novels as a child?
I actually did not. There were a few comics I loved, like Peanuts and Calvin and Hobbes, but, for some reason, I was sort of resistant to graphic novels. I think that, being an illustrator at heart, when I was reading chapter books and novels, I wanted to imagine how I would draw all the pictures, and I didn’t like the idea of someone else doing that part for me. But then, as an adult, due to the encouragement of my literary agent, I finally decided to see what all the fuss was about. I went to a local bookstore and bought Nimona by ND Stevenson and Lightfall by Tim Probert. I loved them. I was instantly obsessed. I begin picturing all of my latest story ideas as graphic novels. It all just clicked for me, and I knew I had to make some of my own.
What attracted you to write books about marine life?
At the age of three, I saw The Little Mermaid. It was my favorite movie for basically my entire childhood and my older brother can attest to the fact that I made my family watch it way way too much. Unfortunately, we lived in Iowa, about as far from the ocean as you can get in America. My only move was to consume all the knowledge about the ocean that I could. It started with mythology mostly: Atlantis, Poseidon, sea nymphs, the kraken. But, as I got older, I realized that the actual life that exists in the ocean for real is just as magical and alien as anything out of myth. After all, what could be more fascinatingly bizarre than an octopus?
What do you think was the most interesting fact you discovered while researching I’m a Dumbo Octopus!?
My favorite thing was learning about “decoy bodies” where an octopus ejects a small, dense cloud of ink that predators mistake for another octopus. That would take so much skill and intelligence. It felt so beyond any cephalopod super power I’d expected to find.
What was your favorite moment or scene to illustrate?
I really loved drawing a lot of the big elaborate scenes where I got to squeeze in every cephalopod and other sea creature that would fit on the page, but I also especially loved drawing certain sequences where Grimpy’s face is going through a series of big emotions. One such sequence that comes to mind is when Grimpy is trying to squeeze through the small hole that he just saw the giant Pacific octopus pass through with ease. I remember giggling silently to myself the entire time I was drawing Grimpy panicking.
What do you hope your readers will take away from reading this book?
The ocean is such a weird and wonderful place full of unimaginably strange and interesting creatures, and we’ve barely scratched the surface as far as understanding them all. There’s no need to look to outer space for aliens. There are aliens for the discovering right here! It’s so important that we continue learning more about them and even more important that we protect their ecosystem so that they’re still there to learn about for decades to come.
A second book in this series comes out in 2026. What can we expect from that sequel?
The second book in the series is going to be all about cetaceans (a.k.a. whales, dolphins and porpoises). Grimpy won’t be making another appearance, but this next book centers around a baby dwarf sperm whale who is just as cute and just as full of interesting facts about aquatic life. If you enjoyed I’m a Dumbo Octopus!, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the next book, too!
Sneak Peek
Enjoy this exclusive look inside the adorable graphic novel!
Praise for I’m a Dumbo Octopus!
★”For its debut, the Anne Lambelet’s Marine Life Graphic Guides recruits the cutest little narrator you ever did see: Grimpy, the dumbo octopus . . . This guide is an obvious pick for Science Comics fans, but even kids who don’t typically go for nonfiction will be delighted by the entertaining presentation of information.” — starred, Booklist
★”Lambelet offers an enchanting blend of whimsy and well-chosen, creatively expressed facts. . . An informative, buoyant, and wildly original look at some marine marvels.” — starred, Kirkus Reviews
★”Perfect for young marine biologists, this title uses humor and fascinating facts to capture the imagination and remind readers that new discoveries are being made every day.” — starred, School Library Journal
★”Animal-loving kids will devour I’m a Dumbo Octopus!: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods, Anne Lambelet’s charming, colorful, and funny guide to everybody’s favorite eight-armed sea creatures. . . a delightful, amusing nonfiction graphic novel perfect for curious kids.” — starred, Shelf Awareness
“The approachable text and friendly pink-, blue-, and red-hued panels effectively and humorously convey the amazing diversity among animals in this group.” — Horn Book Magazine
Connect with the Author
Anne Lambelet earned a bachelor’s degree in illustration from the University of the Arts in 2014 where she was awarded the Roger T. Hane award for the top illustration portfolio by a senior. She currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband Brice, her adorable dog, Eevee and her morbidly obese (but also adorable) cat, Fitzgerald.