A Children's Book · An Animated Film · A Free Game

A story that helps childrendiscover who they truly are.

The Mimicking Octopus: A Journey to True Self — now coming to life through original animation. Emotional resilience, authenticity, and wonder, told through the world's most extraordinary octopus.

🐙 Play Mimi's Reef free Watch the Animation Get the Book

By Alon Braun — marine biologist, entrepreneur, founder of DialogPlace, and author of The Entrepreneur's Journey.

Film adaptation discussions underway

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New · Free to play

Grow a reef. Help real octopuses.

Mimi's Reef is a game for children, made from the book. Care for Mimi, plant kelp and coral, and welcome new sea friends into your own octopus sanctuary.

Disguise DashSwim through the reef and switch to the right disguise to scare each predator away, just like the real mimic octopus.
Your own sanctuaryPlant, grow and harvest. Your reef levels up and new fish move in.
20% helps real octopusesFree to play. When a family buys shells, 20% goes to protecting wild octopuses. See our impact

🐙 Play Mimi's Reef free Is it safe for my child?

Plays in the browser on any phone, tablet or computer. Nothing to install.

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Play Disguise Dash

01 — The animation

The book, brought to life.

An original animated adaptation of The Mimicking Octopus — currently in development for film. Watch the first glimpse.

02 — Why it matters

More than a children's book.

In a world that constantly asks children to become someone else, the Mimicking Octopus carries a single, life-changing truth:

You are enough.

01
Emotional Regulation
How to understand difficult feelings and move through them with grace.
02
Authenticity
The difference between adapting to the world and pretending to be someone else.
03
Character Development
How values shape identity — and why integrity matters from the very beginning.
04
Confidence & Self-Worth
Helping children discover the quiet, unshakable value they already carry.
05
Spiritual Curiosity
A gentle introduction to mindfulness, wonder, and the search for deeper meaning.
06
Acting & Perspective
Trying on different roles to understand others — without ever losing yourself.

03 — The story

A journey to true self.

The Mimicking Octopus can become anything — a sea snake, a lionfish, a flatfish. But when it looks into the mirror, it discovers something far more valuable than camouflage: the courage to be itself.

The real mimicking octopus on the ocean floor

The real creature

Meet the Mimicking Octopus

04 — The real journey

My journey to meet the real octopus.

I didn't just imagine the octopus. I traveled to the Philippines on a personal expedition to find the real creature that inspired this story — one of the most mysterious animals in the ocean.

Watch the real underwater expedition behind the book.

Philippines

Expedition

Real

Footage

Real underwater footage · Philippines

Alon Braun

Marine biologist · Author

05 — The author

Science, story, and the search for meaning.

Alon Braun combines science, storytelling, emotional wisdom, and entrepreneurship to help children — and adults — better understand themselves. His work explores how transformation, adaptation, and authenticity shape human growth.

Marine biologist · MSc, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Entrepreneur
Founder of DialogPlace
Author of The Entrepreneur's Journey
Published coral biomineralization research
Underwater filmmaker

Peer-reviewed research

View full profile on ResearchGate →Read my Master's research blog (Hebrew) →

06 — For parents

Why parents love this book.

Helps children manage emotions
Encourages self-confidence
Teaches healthy identity formation
Sparks imagination and wonder
Opens conversations about values and spirituality

For parents

A game you can feel good about.

Mimi's Reef carries the book's message: it's safe to show your true colours. Children learn real ocean science, patience (plants take time to grow), and that their play helps real animals.

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No ads

Nothing interrupts play, and no one is selling to your child.

💬

No chat

Children can't talk to strangers. There's no open text at all.

👪

Grown-up check

Every purchase needs a grown-up to answer a question first.

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Private by design

No sign-up for children. Progress is saved on your device.

For schools & libraries

Bring Mimi to your school.

Library copies of the book and a joyful 60-minute workshop for your pupils: the story, the real octopus footage, a feelings activity and a craft every child takes home.

Book a school workshop

📚 Library pack of books
🎨 Hands-on workshop, in person or online
🔬 Links to wellbeing and science learning
🎮 Free classroom access to Mimi's Reef

07 — Begin the journey

The Mimicking OctopusA Journey to True Self

A picture book for children — and a quiet reminder for the parents who read it aloud — that the truest thing you can ever be is yourself.

Buy on Amazon Find a Local Store

More by Alon Braun

Other books by the author.

Stories and ideas for every stage of life — from childhood resilience to the creative process of building something meaningful.

Children's book

Don't Cry, Learn

A children's book about turning tears into wisdom and resilience.

View on Amazon →

For adults

The Entrepreneur's Journey

From inspiration to global impact — the inner process of creating innovation and art.

View on Amazon →

Creators, teachers & parenting bloggers

Share Mimi. Earn for every family who joins.

Mimi's Reef has an affiliate programme on DAOaffiliates. Get your own link, share the game and the book with your audience, and earn a commission when a family joins Mimi Plus or buys shells. Every sale also helps real octopuses.

Become a Mimi affiliate

1Sign up free on DAOaffiliates and pick the Mimi's Reef offer.

2Share your link in posts, videos, newsletters or class pages.

3Get paid when a family you sent becomes a paying member.

08 — Join the journey

Stay close to the ocean.

New videos, new game updates, parenting insights, and future expeditions — sent occasionally, never noisily.