Otto: A Palindrama

The panjandrum of palindromes crafts and collects some 200 examples to drive a picaresque graphic tale that (of course!) ends where it began . . . A rare treat, backward and forward. 

Agee's (I Want a Dog) graphic novel fantasy adventure is written entirely in 200 palindromes created by himself and "a variety of sources"--from the names of white-skinned protagonist Otto and his little dog Pip, to a billboard advertising Lion Rock Corn Oil, to the passerby who remarks "No jazz. I prefer pizza, Jon." The offbeat story launches when his father's hypnotic-looking soup ("Nosh, son!") causes Otto to imagine that he and his family have been transported to a dreamlike world largely populated by toys from his bedroom come to life. When Pip runs away, Otto pursues on a trek filled with incident--and undeniably inventive palindromes--until Otto's roused from his dining room daydream. Otto is more wandering tabula rasa than lead player, and the paneled, muted-palette drawings feel very much in service to the what-will-they-come-up-with-next wordplay. But the concept fulfills its offbeat premise in sequences that gleefully underline the fun of a good palindrome, and the joy of finding wordplay wherever one looks--whether Otto's visiting an art "mueseum" ("Koons nook") or wandering through a cemetery ("Del was awled"), the results are supremely strange and funny. Ages 9-12. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Sept.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 2-5--An epic adventure begins in Otto's kitchen when his family settles in for dinner, speaking only in palindromes ("Mmm," "Spoon it in--oops!"), a conceit that continues throughout. As Otto, a young white boy, gazes into his bowl, viewers suddenly see him and his family vacationing on a beach. While his parents bask in the sun, Otto finds himself on a quest as he searches for his lost dog, Pip: He treks through a desert, catches a ride into the city, visits a museum and a cemetery, and is caught in a storm at sea. Moving through various landscapes and offering endless details, Agee's graphic novel is a feast for the eyes. There are 200 palindromes in the book, and it's clear why Agee is considered an expert on the subject. When Otto enters the museum, visitors exclaim, "Gustav Klimt milk vats? Ug!" Palindromes can be found on billboards, license plates, and tombstone epigraphs as Agee creates a sophisticated brand of wit and clever wordplay that will appeal to young humorists. Relying on muted tones, the artwork is rendered in Agee's distinct comic style, with nods to artists like Charles M. Schulz and Jeff Koons. VERDICT Readers will be entranced by this dreamlike graphic novel that boasts a substantial collection of palindromes and an engaging visual narrative.--Claire Moore, Manhattan Beach Lib., CA

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

★ The panjandrum of palindromes crafts and collects some 200 examples to drive a picaresque graphic tale that (of course!) ends where it began . . . A rare treat, backward and forward. —Kirkus, starred review

The concept fulfills its offbeat premise in sequences that gleefully underline the fun of a good palindrome, and the joy of finding wordplay wherever one looks—whether Otto's visiting an art 'mueseum' ('Koons nook') or wandering through a cemetery ('Del was awled'), the results are supremely strange and funny. —Publishers Weekly

Moving through various landscapes and offering endless details, Agee's graphic novel is a feast for the eyes . . . Agee creates a sophisticated brand of wit and clever wordplay that will appeal to young humorists . . . Readers will be entranced by this dreamlike graphic novel that boasts a substantial collection of palindromes and an engaging visual narrative. —School Library Journal