Hello, My Name is Octicorn

February 29, 2016
Octi the octicorn has a horn on his head and four legs. He speculates that he could be the result of his father placing a personal ad: “Unicorn seeks Octopus for fun, friendship, and possible strange-looking offspring.” Of course he’s cute as can be, with a doodlelike body (picture a tentacled Pac-Man ghost with a party hat), googly eyes, and a slightly anxious, clenched grin. But it’s important for Diller and Lowe, who created and self-published Octi’s story several years ago, to assert that he’s an outsider—Octi’s cubby at school is the only one without a birthday card invite—so they can catalogue all the reasons why he’d make a wonderful friend (his horn is great for ring toss and making s’mores, less so for catching beach balls). “In the end,” he says, appealing for sympathy that he doesn’t really need, “we all want the same things: cupcakes, friends, and a jet ski.” There’s no denying Octi’s star power, but the book is little more than a listicle, and readers may wonder when the real story is going to start. Ages 4–8. Agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties.