Use a bold stroke of imagination to make this wonderful moving creature from the sea. Display prominently at your Book Fair by arranging the eight legs on the floor and placing the head on the top. Make sure he has plenty of books to read!

• For the head, cover a beach ball covered with papier-mâché. For his eight legs, use metal or plastic dryer vent hose.
• In a pail, mix up wallpaper paste with a little less water than that for which the recipe calls. Stir well.
• Dip long strips of newspaper, one by one into the pail. Use your fingers to rub off any extra paste.
• Place the strips crisscross (horizontally, vertically, and diagonally) on the "head" and "legs" until each is entirely covered. Smooth layers down as you go. Let dry. Repeat for two or three layers.
• Paint the octopus's head and legs with bright purple spray paint in a well-ventilated area. Let dry.
• Use a Styrofoam ball for eyeballs, and felt for the pupils. Cut the ball in half, and glue on a large round piece of felt for the pupil. Attach each to head. For octopus glasses, use two black floral forms and large thick pipe cleaners.