Cowboyapuss
The cover of The Octopus Who Cried Shark

The Octopus Who Cried Shark

retold from The Boy Who Cried Wolf

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Cowboyapuss the octopus in his cowboy hat, floating above the coral town of Rodeo Reef with tall kelp all around.

Deep down in Rodeo Reef, where the seaweed grows tall and the sand dunes roll, lived a young octopus named Cowboyapuss, the bravest little wrangler on the whole reef.

1
Cowboyapuss among the gentle sea-cows on the prairie, hat on, looking dutiful.

His most important job? Watch over the herd of roly-poly sea-cows… and holler "SHARK!" if danger ever swam close.

2
Cowboyapuss cheekily hollering, arms cupped, sea-cows nearby.

But watching sea-cows all day is slow work. So one afternoon, just to see what would happen, he cupped all eight arms round his mouth and yelled, "SHAAARK!"

3
The townsfolk of Rodeo Reef rushing in from Main Street.

Quick as a current, the whole town raced over. Sheriff Seahorse, the Crabbe Brothers, even Granny Grouper, fins flapping, ready to save the day.

4
Cowboyapuss blushing bright pink, giggling; townsfolk unimpressed.

But there was no shark. Just Cowboyapuss, giggling and turning pink with mischief. "Got ya!" The town was not amused.

5
Sheriff Seahorse frowning kindly; Cowboyapuss sheepish.

The next day, bored again, he did it once more. "SHAAARK!" Everyone rushed over… and again, nothing. "That's not funny, partner," frowned the Sheriff.

6
A real shark silhouette drifting in from the Dunes & the Deep; the light dims.

Then, on the third day, the water went cold and dark. A real shadow slid across the sand, long and grey and hungry.

7
Cowboyapuss alone, calling out; the town in the distance not reacting.

"SHARK! SHAAARK!" cried Cowboyapuss, arms waving every which way. But down in town, nobody moved. "That little trickster," they sighed. "Not again."

8
Cowboyapuss, coloured grey and green to match the rock and kelp, hides with the sea-cows while the shark turns away.

So he thought fast. He herded every last sea-cow safe behind the rock, then turned grey as the stone and green as the kelp, and held very still. The shark saw only rocks and kelp. It grew bored and swam away.

9
The town gathered around glowing Campfire Coral; Cowboyapuss humble, hat lowered.

That night, by the campfire coral, Cowboyapuss hung his hat low. "I'm sorry," he told the town. "From now on, when I holler, it'll be true." And it always was.

10

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