Reviews:

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, March 2006
What a fantastic way to teach language arts! Early readers will find that the story is strong and that they can learn “school stuff” in a fun way. The tale is simple and understandable. In it, Logan encounters Professor Robert Wordsworth and learns about “word” magic when he and his busy friend Benedict are racing around the inside of the library. The professor blows magic dust from the cover of a book into Logan’s face. From there on out, Logan is being “punished.” Ridiculously entertaining puns spill out of his mouth whenever he tries to comment and ask questions. Grown-ups and kids moan and groan in answer to his puns. Wordsworth agrees to cure Logan only if he finds some oxymorons and anagrams in his everyday life. Logan sets out to find the words and in so doing, he presents the reader with perfect examples of the word forms. The author has the ability to make the characters real, thereby allowing children this age to identify with Logan and even Benedict. This unique tale is sure to encourage even the most reluctant reader and to make teaching language arts much easier for teachers. It is best for a reader to read the book instead of hear it read to them. It helps to see the words in sentences packed with a pun. Add several copies to a classroom or library so many students can read them for language arts.

Book Examination Site Book of the Week, February 6, 2006
For those who know David Lubar, either from his books and short stories, columns, or appearances, you won’t be surprised that his latest book deals with word play. This book, however, is for a slightly younger audience that his others, probably of most interest to youngsters in grades 3-5.

Logan and his friend are running (yes, chasing one another) in the public library when Logan runs into a strange man who decides Logan must be “punished.” From that time on Logan can only speak in puns for which he gets in trouble with some authority figures. In desperation, Logan returns to the library to locate the gentleman, Professor Robert Wordsworth, who tells him it will take three steps to remove the punishment. He must first take pictures of seven oxymorons within 24 hours. After that task is completed, he must place seven anagrams in a bag. His final task is rubber banding seven palindromes. The book ends with Logan and his friend going off for pizza – “I never sausage a nice pizza…I read about one in the news-pepper…And we walked outside – two groan boys.”

Kids will once again enjoy Lubar’s humor, and teachers will have a field day with the language.