Down in the ocean lived tickly octopus with eight twisty, twirly tentacles that loved to tickle the fish. Octopus thought tickling was fun! But some of the other sea creatures didn't like to be tickled. But Octopus thought that tickling was what he did best. One day Octopus tickled Oyster while she was sleeping. Oyster was so startled that she lost her pearl. After apologizing, Octopus went in search for Oyster's pearl and soon discovered that he had many talents other than tickling. Octopus could swim fast and squeeze into small places, but best of all he was able to find and return Oyster's pearl!

Ruth Galloway studied art in school but is essentially self-taught. She knew she was going to be an artist from the age of eight and is now a successful illustrator of a number of picture books. Ruth is a trained aerobics instructor, and in her spare time, she enjoys cooking and gardening. Ruth is married with two children and lives in Berkshire, England.