Pedro and the Octopus

Pedro and the Octopus is a tactile Twin Vision® book commissioned by the American Action Fund For Blind Children and Adults. With print and Braille text written by Deborah Kent, and creative, colorful, and captivating tactile illustrations by Ann Cunningham, this book can be enjoyed through vision and touch. It is a great way to give young children, both blind and sighted, a unique reading experience.

Cover of Pedro and the Octopus featuring a bright orange octopus on a blue background with Braille and print letters.The Story

When his big sister, Lena, warns him that octopuses have lots of sticky arms for catching kids, Pedro isn't too sure that a family trip to the beach will be much fun. Pretty soon, though, he gets caught up in the excitement of walking in the sand with his long white cane, finding shells and stones to put into his pail, and playing in the waves.

How to Purchase

This book is available for a purchase price of $35.00 plus handling. For each book purchased, the Action Fund will give one away to a child who could not otherwise afford it. You can order by calling 410-659-9315 or by sending an email to [email protected].  

Teaching Guide

With the commission of Pedro and the Octopus, the Action Fund is exploring methods of making books interesting for all readers. The Braille and tactile elements help young blind children begin to comprehend tactile representations. These representations will be used throughout their lifetime. Exposing a child to tactile drawings, art, and sculpture at an early age not only strengthens the child's creativity and imagination, but the child's ability to effectively interpret tactile graphics in other contexts.

Along with the book, we have produced a teaching guide for parents and teachers to help children examine and identify different aspects of the book. It will help them conceptualize the tactile renderings and create discussion and exploration.