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Palindromania!
What exactly is "palindromania"? It's the inability to see the word STRAW without thinking WARTS. It's the powerful impulse to reverse the name OPRAH to make it HARPO. It's the uncontrollable urge to buy A TOYOTA. It's an obsession with words and phrases that read exactly the same forwards and backwards. And now, in his most entertaining and extensive volume, Jon Agee, the prime purveyor of palindromes, has taken this unique word phenomenon to a whole new level. Featuring themed sections, comic-strip-style stories, and even lengthy monologues, Agee's collection of over 160 familiar and unfamiliar palindromes paired with all-new masterly cartoons is a treasure for word-lovers young and old.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published October 24, 2002
82 people want to read
About the author
Jon Agee
53 books163 followersI grew up in Nyack, New York, just up the street from the Hudson River. In our house, there was always an art project going on.
My early drawings were very animated: a lot of stuff zipping around, airplanes, racing cars, football players. No surprise my first published drawing was a pack of rats running along a highway (The Rat Race). I did that for the New York Times Op Ed page when I was still in high school.
I went to college at The Cooper Union School of Art in New York City. I studied painting, sculpture and filmmaking, but what I loved doing most—in my spare time—was drawing cartoons and comic strips.
When I graduated, I hauled my pile of doodles into the offices of a bunch of editors, with the wild notion that somebody might publish them. When that failed, I wrote a story for kids to go with my pictures (If Snow Falls). It was two sentences long (which counts, by the way). Frances Foster, a wonderful editor at Random House, saw something in that book and signed me up.
The next book, Ellsworth, was about a dog who teaches economics at a university. When he gets home, he throws off his clothes and acts like a dog, which is fine, until some fellow teachers discover this and he loses his job. Somebody told me that Ellsworth was a story about "being yourself." I never realized it had a moral.
I moved to another publisher with Ludlow Laughs, the story of a grumpy guy who laughs in his sleep. This book was doing very poorly until the comedienne Phyliss Diller read it on PBS's Reading Rainbow. It stayed in print for over twenty years.
My fourth book, The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau, was a hit. One of the first people to see it and give it the thumb's up—literally, hot off the press—was Maurice Sendak. We bumped into each other at the printers. It was a lucky first meeting, and happily not our last.
That was all a long time ago. Since then I've written many other picture books, illustrated a few by other authors, and created a series of offbeat wordplay books, beginning with the book of palindromes, Go Hang a Salami! I'm a Lasagna Hog!
I visit schools across the country and sometimes around the globe. I live with my wife, Audrey, in San Francisco.
My early drawings were very animated: a lot of stuff zipping around, airplanes, racing cars, football players. No surprise my first published drawing was a pack of rats running along a highway (The Rat Race). I did that for the New York Times Op Ed page when I was still in high school.
I went to college at The Cooper Union School of Art in New York City. I studied painting, sculpture and filmmaking, but what I loved doing most—in my spare time—was drawing cartoons and comic strips.
When I graduated, I hauled my pile of doodles into the offices of a bunch of editors, with the wild notion that somebody might publish them. When that failed, I wrote a story for kids to go with my pictures (If Snow Falls). It was two sentences long (which counts, by the way). Frances Foster, a wonderful editor at Random House, saw something in that book and signed me up.
The next book, Ellsworth, was about a dog who teaches economics at a university. When he gets home, he throws off his clothes and acts like a dog, which is fine, until some fellow teachers discover this and he loses his job. Somebody told me that Ellsworth was a story about "being yourself." I never realized it had a moral.
I moved to another publisher with Ludlow Laughs, the story of a grumpy guy who laughs in his sleep. This book was doing very poorly until the comedienne Phyliss Diller read it on PBS's Reading Rainbow. It stayed in print for over twenty years.
My fourth book, The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau, was a hit. One of the first people to see it and give it the thumb's up—literally, hot off the press—was Maurice Sendak. We bumped into each other at the printers. It was a lucky first meeting, and happily not our last.
That was all a long time ago. Since then I've written many other picture books, illustrated a few by other authors, and created a series of offbeat wordplay books, beginning with the book of palindromes, Go Hang a Salami! I'm a Lasagna Hog!
I visit schools across the country and sometimes around the globe. I live with my wife, Audrey, in San Francisco.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
October 20, 2023
Very interesting book that gives you insight into the complexities of language - fun and informative. I think it is really important to learn about language; one of my biggest regrets is that I do not speak another language. Books like this show us that there is a fun side to language; this book made me laugh; and it also answered some questions I had.
December 31, 2016
Companion to Elvis Lives, Smart Feller Fart Smeller and others by Agee. Simple joke book, really. All ages. If you like passively consuming (as opposed to creating, as in brain teasers and puzzles) these kinds of word play, you'll surely enjoy these. If not, skip. I'm sure there are fun word-play websites and blogs online but they won't have the lol pictures that add so much to each.
This one is particularly dependent on the pictures and the juxtaposition of several palindromes into a story of panels. One of my favorites that does stand alone is "A car, a man, a maraca."
Randomly, there's a 'bonus' (?) spread of Upside-Down Graffiti, aka ambigrams, included. Agee's are better than many of the ones you'll find with a basic google image search.
It would be fun to use this in school, maybe for 9-12 year-olds especially.
And, btw, credit is given at the end. Agee did the all art, but half of the words & phrases he found or was given.
This one is particularly dependent on the pictures and the juxtaposition of several palindromes into a story of panels. One of my favorites that does stand alone is "A car, a man, a maraca."
Randomly, there's a 'bonus' (?) spread of Upside-Down Graffiti, aka ambigrams, included. Agee's are better than many of the ones you'll find with a basic google image search.
It would be fun to use this in school, maybe for 9-12 year-olds especially.
And, btw, credit is given at the end. Agee did the all art, but half of the words & phrases he found or was given.
February 26, 2019
A delight. Lots of fun for word lovers of any age.
April 24, 2017
My kids in the Italian restaurant yesterday:
RISOTTO, SIR?
(yes it's from the book)
RISOTTO, SIR?
(yes it's from the book)
March 13, 2011
SO fun! That is what this book was.
Orionally, I had no idea what this book was until I noticed that backwards, the sayings are exactly the same. And I was like, "Ohhhh! Now I know what this book is about" ifelt like a realy idiot. The bookwas entertaining. My favourite one has to be about that guy who escaped out of prison I think and the guards called him a fatso and then they went to their bosses and he was a fatso. :D
That was a bad description. LOL
You should read it whoever you are. So go!!!!!
Orionally, I had no idea what this book was until I noticed that backwards, the sayings are exactly the same. And I was like, "Ohhhh! Now I know what this book is about" ifelt like a realy idiot. The bookwas entertaining. My favourite one has to be about that guy who escaped out of prison I think and the guards called him a fatso and then they went to their bosses and he was a fatso. :D
That was a bad description. LOL
You should read it whoever you are. So go!!!!!
January 3, 2018
Most of the palindromes were humorous; a couple of the longer ones were almost incomprehensible.
Read
March 30, 2024I love palindromes and I love Jon Agee.
June 14, 2018
I love me a good book on word play! This book was filled with fun palindromes and cute simple comic strips to accompany them. I can’t decide between 3 or 4 stars. It’s really 3.5. I’ll go with 4 to be nice because some were truly well thought out like the monologues though barely understandable. Gnu dung was probably my favorite!
September 8, 2008
Don't you just love palindromes? I have been fascinated by them since third grade. I love words, phrases and numbers. It makes life seem centered when the odometer reads 25,852. Or when you are out walking and see a company named Zerorez.
April 18, 2012
This is a very engaging book for older grades. I think this book would be perfect from 3rd grade and up. This book can be used as an introduction book to what palindromes are. This book is written with speech bubbles, so students will enjoy it.
October 27, 2013
Wait, why is everyone reviewing this as a kids' book?? :)
This contains more palindromes than I've ever seen in one place before, but also accompanying each one is an appropriate and funny illustration. This must really have been a hoot to write!
But Anita sat in a tub.
This contains more palindromes than I've ever seen in one place before, but also accompanying each one is an appropriate and funny illustration. This must really have been a hoot to write!
But Anita sat in a tub.
June 18, 2015
Bought at a Friends of the Library Book sale. Thought my morning care people would enjoy it. Only one looked at it. I finally read it. Unique, illustrated, and amazed at how many palindromes he came up with. Some, of course, are better than others. Fun for word lovers.
January 27, 2008
A great comic illustrated pages full of amazing palindromes.
"Eva, can I stab bats in a cave?" is an example as one of these palindromes.
"Eva, can I stab bats in a cave?" is an example as one of these palindromes.
August 11, 2009
This is one of the most fun books ever! John Agee, the "droll lord" of palindromes! (thank you for that palindrome, Will Shortz) Nicely knockabout drawings, too.
August 29, 2011
You will find there are more palindromes than you though. Gotta love these kinds of books.
December 28, 2012
Fun, well worth it as a palindrome fan.
July 22, 2017
Great book to use in the classroom to inspire students to write creatively!!
August 29, 2017
A tooth-achingly clever must-read for all wordplay fans. Highly recommended for ages 8-adult.
June 3, 2018
This was a lot of fun! I actually sat there are attempted to read these backwards.
August 27, 2018
Most of these were funny. Some were weird. A couple were downright hilarious.
My favorite was Lew's Diet Prison. "Hey! Obese boy! Eh!" Well, let's tell Lew. We lost a fatso, Lew."
My favorite was Lew's Diet Prison. "Hey! Obese boy! Eh!" Well, let's tell Lew. We lost a fatso, Lew."
February 26, 2019
I was confusion during reading this book, but it's interesting and fun. I found myself that grinning while reading the book. There was some good jokes and I was surprised.haha
August 3, 2022
Fun collection of word play in many varieties with the foundation of the palindrome.
Agree seems to have a great deal of fun turning words inside out and plotting situations to involve it all in.
This volume being mostly for those that loves words, humor and literature.
I don't care for the very '60s-'70s style artwork. As I like the skill to construct a book of palindromes, I like to see art demonstrating skill. His story telling skills are far worse.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 7 out of ten points.
Agree seems to have a great deal of fun turning words inside out and plotting situations to involve it all in.
This volume being mostly for those that loves words, humor and literature.
I don't care for the very '60s-'70s style artwork. As I like the skill to construct a book of palindromes, I like to see art demonstrating skill. His story telling skills are far worse.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 7 out of ten points.
May 25, 2023
(Excellent palindromes and adorable sketches! Some of my favorites:)
Do geese see God?
Le Falafel
Lonely Tylenol
A car, a man, a maraca
(And personally I admit that I identify as...)
Dr Awkward
Do geese see God?
Le Falafel
Lonely Tylenol
A car, a man, a maraca
(And personally I admit that I identify as...)
Dr Awkward
May 18, 2022
pretty cool
September 30, 2022
A very clever book, full of palindrome comic strips, but also very difficult to get through - kind of headache inducing after a few pages. :P
December 24, 2022
This was a really fun read. I had not given palindromes much thought before reading this but i found it very entertaining!
January 25, 2024
52 book club challenge 2024 - a palindrome on the cover (and throughout the whole book- nothing but palindromes!)
Fun read!
Fun read!
April 5, 2024
“Borrow or rob” this book.
I had a few laugh-out-loud moments. Very clever.
I had a few laugh-out-loud moments. Very clever.
May 28, 2024
This was brilliant. An artist getting whimsical with palindromic storytelling.
September 7, 2024
Lots of repeats from previous books, but plenty of new material as well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews