Arm in Arm: A Collection of Connections, Endless Tales, Reiterations, and Other Echolalia

by Remy Charlip

Hailed by the New York Times as a rare and original collection of "verbal and visual witticisms...as joyfully illustrated as it is absurd," ARM IN ARM has delighted children—and grown-ups—for years with its endless tales, gleeful riddles, circular poems, and fantastical drawings.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Humor, Poetry, Childrens, Fiction, Kids

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Abraham 'Remy' Charlip (born January 10, 1929) was an American artist, writer, choreographer, theatre director, designer, and teacher.

He studied art at Straubenmuller Textile High School in Manhattan and fine arts at Cooper Union in New York, graduating in 1949.

In the 1960s, Charlip created a unique form of choreography, which he called "air mail dances". He sent a set of drawings to a dance company, and the dancers ordered the positions and created transitions and context.

He performed with John Cage, was a founding member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company for which he also designed sets and costumes, directed plays for the Judson Poet's Theater, co-founded the Paper Bag Players, and served as head of the Children's Theater and Literature Department at Sarah Lawrence College.

He won two Village Voice Obie Awards, three New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year citations, and was awarded a six-month residency in Kyoto from the Japan/U.S. Commission on the Arts. He wrote and/or illustrated more than 30 children's books and passed away in San Francisco, California, on August 14, 2012.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A silly but amusing book of wordplay and doodles about infinite loops and circular stories.

[Gar Ver · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brain friendly children's book.

Isn't it better to be in a warm bed saying, "Isn't it better to be in a warm bed rather than out in the cold snow?" Rather than out in the cold snow saying, "Isn't it better to be in a warm bed rather than out in the cold snow?"

That's one page! Arm in Arm celebrates the elemental reasoning behind love and acceptance.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I were to make a list of the books I've read more times than I can count, Arm in Arm by Remy Charlip would be near the top. This slim book of art and poetry was one of those books I would try to check out from the library every time I went. I'm surprised I didn't end up being given a copy. In fact, I ended up buying the library's copy many years later when it had been read to the point of falling apart! I later released that copy via BookCrossing and replaced it with another one in better condition.

Happily Arm in Arm has come back in print although the cover art has changed to a different collage of drawings from the book. I suspect that a number of people in my generation wanted a copy to share with their children.

The subtitle for the book explains what makes it so charming: "A COLLECTION OF CONNECTIONS, ENDLESS TALES, REITERATIONS, AND OTHER ECHOLALIA." Each poem and drawing is like Ouroboros, wrapping in on itself and often times stopping where it started. Then there are the silly jokes both written and drawn that pepper the pages.

I really can't do justice to this book's charm and humor without scanning and publishing the entire thing online. So just go get yourself a copy to enjoy!

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not much more than a collection of doodles and strange musings, yet I couldn't get enough of it as a kid. My copy is stained and tattered, and MINE FOREVER. So there!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favoite books when I was 5 or 6. It's a collection of word rhymes and tongue teasers but oh so much more. I've thought of it quite often throughout my life and oh, how I wished I had a copy. When it's re-issued I'm buying a copy for me and my nieces! "Pete & Repeat were sitting on a fence and Pete fell off. Who was left? Repeat. Pete & Repeat were sitting on a fence and Pete fell off. Who was left? Repeat'. And so on.

[Chris Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just beautiful, like a non animated version of those old cartoon bits in between the Muppet scenes on Sesame Street. Hugely inventive, but most importantly with a fantastic eye for the importance of composition of a blank page. Space is used so brilliantly, especially as a counterbalance to more detailed pages. A dream of a book

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite childhood books that I found a copy in a used bookstore and have hung on to it ever since!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Child me would have given this five stars. It's a sub-genre all its own, but fans of concrete poetry, nonsense verse, tongue twisters, word play, meta- and interactive fiction will all find something to giggle over, something they want to share out loud with their families.

I am bothered by the lack of acknowledgements. Some verses & jokes are probably Charlip's own, but some surely aren't (for example, Pete and Repete).

Recommended if you can find it at your library before they cull it, but I'm not sure it's actually worth buying.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I good dose of the absurd and imaginative for budding minds enchanted by word- and line-play.

[elissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spent hours and hours and hours with this when I was about 5 years old. My kids were never as enthralled by it, possibly because it looks very late-60's/early 70's. I got my younger son to spend some time with it yesterday, and he laughed a lot, and ran over to me with it to show me something several times. Fun!

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a combination of humorous word play and entertaining artwork for a fun read aloud. The tales/poems/plays/etc. are quite bizarre and the repetition and puns are very creative. We really enjoyed reading this book together.

[Roseanne]

This odd little book passed over my desk today...is it safe to say that we're not as eclectic as we used to be?

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

repetition & recursion

[Adele · Rating 4 out of 5]

My new copy of this book ( Arm in Arm: A Collection of Connections, Endless Tales, Reiterations, and Other Echolalia ) says on the back cover, "Remy Charlip takes us on a unique and magical excursion into the mind of a child." That's a cheesy thing to say, but in this case it is kind of true. I read this with my adult daughter and she said she probably liked it because she has the mind of a child. LOL I was not as taken by it as an adult, but I remember finding it amazing and reading it over and over when I was a kid.

Part of: * When I was very young I believe my parents got a subscription to Parents Press Magazine books. They also got books from other sources. A key memory of childhood for me is the many children's picture books kept on the built-in shelves in our basement. Recently I put together a list of the ones I could find online and remember: Adele's Childhood Basement Picture Books My amazing husband found many of the physical books as a Christmas gift for me, so I am now seeing and re-reading the physical books for the first time in over twenty years. Be aware that most if not all of them will get an extra star from me for the incredible nostalgia.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whimsical, delightful, fun-ful. My favorite:

"I want a chocolate covered cherry
and a chocolate covered Easter egg
and a chocolate covered Valentine
and a chocolate covered ice cream cone
and a chocolate covered birthday cake
and a chocolate covered Christmas tree
and a chocolate covered snowman
and a chocolate covered bicycle
and some chocolate covered spaghetti."

[Kathryn Bumbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a child and now, as a child at heart. Anyone who has a child or has been a child ;) should enjoy this book.
It is filled with lovely rhymes and illustrations, life lessons and thoughtful ideas. I can still quote much of it and copy the drawings; it fills my mind and memory to this day. Get this book for your child, grandchild, inner child.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming book from the late 60's that is a combination of witty observations and "cool" illustrations. I have been totally entertained by this water color enhanced, illustrative, "punny" gift from a dear friend. It makes me laugh, it makes me think, and it makes me wish I knew Remy Charlip.

[Elaine]

As a child I loved this creative, fun, and sometimes absurd book, so I decided to re-read it as an adult. Still holds up and still tickles the imagination! Delightful drawings, too. I now also appreciate the book’s subtitle which I’m sure was meaningless to me as a kid: “A Collection of Connections, Endless Tales, Reiterations, and Other Echolalia.”

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me. I thought it was awful. Read it aloud and struggled to make sense of it. Did not enjoy this one at all. The boys liked the nonsense but seemed more interested in my reaction to the book than the content.

[Tandava Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gift from Chris to me and Suryani. It is full of delightful, whimsical little surprises. The chicken and the egg were a particular favorite of Suryani’s. I quite liked the little piece of string and the ghost town, myself, among others.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a kid I found this book hilarious and inspirational. Too bad it's out of print!

[Tracy]

I do not know how to rate this. It's a trip.

[Emily Carlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever, confusing, and creative. A game in a book.

[Eric Dowdle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply delightful

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absurd, imaginative, lovely.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

favorite, review soon

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This didn't completely hold together as a collection for me, but it was pretty fun!

[Muriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memorized by heart as a child!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a kid a remember pouring over it again and again.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my FAVORITE books as a child. It was a Christmas gift from Santa 🎅 🥰