Synopses & Reviews
Bob has a problem. He's a palindrome. In fact, as soon as his teacher points out what a palindrome is, Bob realizes there are palindromes everywhere: his pup Otto, his little sis, Nan. . . even Mom and Dad! It's making Bob feel like a kook. Is there no escape? Mark Shulman and Adam McCauley have joined forces to create a wonderfully visual, ridiculously clever book of wordplay. Join the hilarity. . . do your civic deed and find the more than 101 palindromes in the words and pictures of this zany book. Fun for home and school. Perfect for readers of all ages.
Review
"In this tale of compulsive wordplay, flame-haired Bob (aka Robert Trebor) discovers palindromes and becomes possessed by language. He notices mirror-image words and phrases everywhere, and begins listing "My kayak. My race car. Otto, my pup .... I needed to tell Mom and Dad and...O no!" Realizing the literal truth of the book title, Bob rushes to inform his sister Anna: "You're all palindromes! Even Nan!" Anna, snacking on Doofy Food, cautions, "Level, Bob, level. You're being a kook!" Bob's apprehension increases in a way that's both funny and infectious. "It will get better, won't it now -" he reasons, unwittingly compounding the irony. Shulman (AA Is for Aardvark) and McCauley (My Friend Chicken) mimic the high anxiety of Scieszka and Smith's Math Curse, down to the speckly illustration style and playful display type. They emphasize the palindromes with old-fashioned, circus-like capital letters that suit the hyper mood perfectly; street signs, book titles and incidental background details further reveal the palindrome epidemic. Fans of Jon Agee's palindrome titles will want to check out this volume, which slyly promotes a catchy spelling game." -Publishers Weekly, starred review
Review
"The joke builds nicely, and the illustrations are handsome." New York Times Book Review
About the Author
Mark Shulman has had a mom, a dad, more than one sis, a tot or two (S. S. and Hannah), and a Toyota. He is the author of AA Is for Aardvark, Fillmore & Geary Take Off!, and more than 55 other books for children and adults. He comes from Buffalo, and now New York. "Madam, I'm Adam" McCauley is the author and illustrator of My Friend Chicken. He has also illustrated many other picture books and chapter books for children, including The Time Warp Trio series and Sideways Stories from Wayside School.