Sheboygan Author, Eugene Helenson, will be here to share his new book, Ocho, with you!
OCHO is an octopus. An orange octopus who wants to learn how to fly. This is a story about believing in oneself.
Created for parents who love to read to their children, and children who love to be read to, OCHO is a fantastic tale of resilience and perseverance, of setting goals, working hard, and staying true to who you are.
Lovingly written and hand-illustrated from scratch by a real person, OCHO brings the reader into the journey and invites them to think, question, imagine, wonder, and help solve. It tempts them deliciously to be a participant in the story, employing creativity, critical thinking, and constructive problem-solving strategies throughout, as they imagine how our hero might achieve his lofty goals.
Written in the rhythm and rhyming spirit of Dr. Seuss, Mother Goose, and Shel Silverstein, OCHO is designed to be read aloud. It teaches young readers and writers that a story is more than just what you say — it can also be how you say it. Our tale introduces young readers to some big, juicy, crunchy new words and shows children how much fun can be had with language, and the wondrous adventures one can find by asking the magical question: “What if…”
Bold, vivid, original illustrations bring OCHO’s undersea world to life — introducing readers to his aquatic friends and the vast array of marine creatures he meets along his journey. These hand-drawn illustrations are inspired by and pay humble homage to the meticulously brilliant works of Chris Van Allsburg, Maurice Sendak, and all profoundly gifted traditional artists.
Ultimately, OCHO is a playful tale with a strong message, created to inspire young minds — respecting children’s intelligence, creativity, and aesthetic sensibilities. All while deepening a young reader’s love for and appreciation of literature.
Author and illustrator Eugene Helenson spent the first fifty-eight years of his life not writing children’s books. Then along came OCHO — the tale of an octopus who wants to learn to fly. This is a story about believing in oneself. Created for parents who love to read to their children, and children who love to be read to, OCHO is a fantastic tale of resilience and perseverance, of setting goals, working hard, and staying true to who you are.
