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I Am A Pole (And So Can You!)
"The sad thing is, I like it" - Maurice Sendak
"The perfect gift to give a child or grandchild for their high school or college graduation.
Also Father's Day.
Also, other times."
- Stephen Colbert
"The perfect gift to give a child or grandchild for their high school or college graduation.
Also Father's Day.
Also, other times."
- Stephen Colbert
ebook
Published
May 8th 2012
by Grand Central Publishing
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I read this book in a bookstore yesterday, never intending to read it, but my son's girlfriend picked it up and started reading it out loud. Before I knew it, we were both reading it out loud and laughing. In fact, we laughed at every page, at the witty wording, at the concept of the pole searching for its purpose, at the just plain fun silliness, and at the well done illustrations. It was in short, and it is a very short book, a delightful surprise shared with one of my favorite people in one o...more
12 likes · like · see review
view all 6 comments
Kitsch at its best.
Ok, this book is really really short. Not even twenty pages. There are maybe eighty words total. "I am a Pole (And So Can You!)" is a mock children's book. It has the familiar two or three rhymed sentences per page juxtaposed with a colorful image drawn sans two and three point perspective.
This is the story of a pole looking for his place in the world. He tries out all kinds of different positions, from working as a lamp post, to a stripper pole but nothing is for him. Then...more
Ok, this book is really really short. Not even twenty pages. There are maybe eighty words total. "I am a Pole (And So Can You!)" is a mock children's book. It has the familiar two or three rhymed sentences per page juxtaposed with a colorful image drawn sans two and three point perspective.
This is the story of a pole looking for his place in the world. He tries out all kinds of different positions, from working as a lamp post, to a stripper pole but nothing is for him. Then...more
Take a look at the cover.
There is a silver "Caldecott Eligible Book" medallion featuring soaring eagles and Colbert riding a flying pig, a quote by Maurice Sendak, and a drawing of what appears to be a happy tapeworm. If any of this makes you smile, you should probably enjoy the rest of the book.
Open the cover and you'll find a sweet story about a pole's journey of self discovery. This pole is no lazy layabout; he is looking for a job, and most of the book is taken up with his attempts at variou...more
There is a silver "Caldecott Eligible Book" medallion featuring soaring eagles and Colbert riding a flying pig, a quote by Maurice Sendak, and a drawing of what appears to be a happy tapeworm. If any of this makes you smile, you should probably enjoy the rest of the book.
Open the cover and you'll find a sweet story about a pole's journey of self discovery. This pole is no lazy layabout; he is looking for a job, and most of the book is taken up with his attempts at variou...more
13 likes · like · see review
May 09, 2012
John
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Stephen Colbert fans, humorists
Recommended to John by:
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert's gem is a tribute to Maurice Sendak...
Simply put, Stephen Colbert's I Am A Pole (And So Can You!) is the funniest under 10-minute read that I've thumbed through and then read this year... and maybe last year as well!
Like the best of Colbert's work, this one offers a preposterous concept in a very straight-faced tongue-in-cheek way that artfully lampoons children's books, politics and pop culture even as it embraces it. Page after page (OK, there are only 32 pages here), Colbert'...more
Simply put, Stephen Colbert's I Am A Pole (And So Can You!) is the funniest under 10-minute read that I've thumbed through and then read this year... and maybe last year as well!
Like the best of Colbert's work, this one offers a preposterous concept in a very straight-faced tongue-in-cheek way that artfully lampoons children's books, politics and pop culture even as it embraces it. Page after page (OK, there are only 32 pages here), Colbert'...more
I am so disappointed, friends.
Really.
I'd been looking forward to I am a Pole since Colbert's Epic Beyond All Epic interview with the (deceased as of today noooo my childhood) Maurice Sendak.
Which was absolutely amazing.
But, um. I didn't... I didn't laugh at all.
I mean, I laughed at the idea of it. But that was before the physical copy was in my hand. Then there was no laughing. There was some eye rolling. And a little bit of desperate page flipping. And a stripper, which was fun. But no laughin...more
Really.
I'd been looking forward to I am a Pole since Colbert's Epic Beyond All Epic interview with the (deceased as of today noooo my childhood) Maurice Sendak.
Which was absolutely amazing.
But, um. I didn't... I didn't laugh at all.
I mean, I laughed at the idea of it. But that was before the physical copy was in my hand. Then there was no laughing. There was some eye rolling. And a little bit of desperate page flipping. And a stripper, which was fun. But no laughin...more
9 likes · like · see review
Another funny book by the always hilarious Stephen Colbert, this time with a parody of childrens book.
Inspired by his interview with author Maurice Sendak, Colbert writes about a pole who is still looking for his true destiny of being an important pole. From an Olympic pole to a to a strippers pole, it seems hopeless until he finally, in the end, becomes a flag pole.
Haha, it's a very funny book, but I questioned if it was really a childrens book or just a parody of one. It has to be a parody bec...more
Inspired by his interview with author Maurice Sendak, Colbert writes about a pole who is still looking for his true destiny of being an important pole. From an Olympic pole to a to a strippers pole, it seems hopeless until he finally, in the end, becomes a flag pole.
Haha, it's a very funny book, but I questioned if it was really a childrens book or just a parody of one. It has to be a parody bec...more
As a child, of course, I loved Maurice Sendak's books, and his interview with Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report earlier this year was one of the funniest segments I had seen in a long time, where Sendak inadvertently inspired Colbert to write a children's book. I Am A Pole (And So Can You!) is the result.
I didn't have very high expectations—I knew I Am A Pole would be really short (8 minutes) and simplistic. But I did find it amusing in a cute and silly sort of way. Nothing earth-shattering...more
I didn't have very high expectations—I knew I Am A Pole would be really short (8 minutes) and simplistic. But I did find it amusing in a cute and silly sort of way. Nothing earth-shattering...more
This faux-childrens' book is packed with hilarity that extends to even the front and back covers. My only contention is the illustration seems sub-par by most illustrated book standards. I find that the most effective satire accurately mocks every little aspect of the subject it attempts to subvert (Onion News Network are the undisputed masters, in my humble opinion.) As a big fan of both the Colbert Report and of well-illustrated childrens' books, I was hoping the Colbert-brand satire I enjoy w...more
I don't usually include picture books in my Goodreads reviews, but I wanted to do this one because I love Stephen Colbert and I got a real kick out of it. The rhymes and illustrations are quite clever, clearly done tongue-in-cheek. If it weren't for the stripper 3/4 of the way through, I would get it for my library. Actually, it is not really meant to be children's book--I think it was written in response to the hilarious interview SC did with Maurice Sendak on his TV show, when he claimed that...more
First of all, I should note that I do not watch Stephen Colbert, so perhaps I am not qualified to leave a review on this book. I read it because it's on bestseller lists right now, and I was curious (and especially drawn in by the excellent title).
I did not find I am a Pole (And So Can You!) as funny as I had hoped. I imagine that this is because I am not accustomed to Stephen Colbert's humor. I did find parts of the book, including the badge on the front and the inclusion of a stripper (I would...more
I did not find I am a Pole (And So Can You!) as funny as I had hoped. I imagine that this is because I am not accustomed to Stephen Colbert's humor. I did find parts of the book, including the badge on the front and the inclusion of a stripper (I would...more
I almost really loved this book. I really thought, as I was reading it, that it was something I would enjoy reading to my kids, that I would enjoy the Colbert-ness of it while they just enjoyed a straight-forward kids book that had at least some educational value with regards to language repetition and generalization. One page ruins it and I just can't understand the decision to include the stripper pole. Obviously, every adult reading the book has written that joke in their mind already. Couldn...more
Stephen Colbert cracks me up!
I bought copies of this book for my husband and my brother, thinking it would be more like Colbert's previous book I Am America (and so can you!). I didn't realize it was written as a picture book. While the cadence of the language lends itself to reading the book aloud, I don't think I'll be reading it to any preschoolers any time soon, though, thanks to the (really funny) page about the pole dancer. However, my mother, my husband, my eleven-year-old stepson, and I...more
I bought copies of this book for my husband and my brother, thinking it would be more like Colbert's previous book I Am America (and so can you!). I didn't realize it was written as a picture book. While the cadence of the language lends itself to reading the book aloud, I don't think I'll be reading it to any preschoolers any time soon, though, thanks to the (really funny) page about the pole dancer. However, my mother, my husband, my eleven-year-old stepson, and I...more
In this parody of children's picture books, a pole searches for its identity and purpose in life. As he moves from possibility to possibility--a Gallup poll, a ski pole, a barber pole, a stripper's pole--he really struggles, at one point, even admitting to s aummer spent with the phone poles "getting totally strung out" (unpaged). The brief text on each page as well as the illustrations and even the "Caldecott Eligible" book sticker on the cover are liable to prompt guffaws from bibliophiles and...more
The late Maurice Sendak said of this book, "Terribly, supremely ordinary...The sad thing is, I like it." Who am I to disagree, I liked it as well. I liked almost everything about this book, almost everything...I actually found the computer generated illustrations to be only mediocre. But I especially liked the part with the Stripper. (Yes, not appropriate for youngsters.) Which is a shame because it is a genuinely delightful book with a patriotic message. One page will be enough to keep this boo...more
Always hilarious from Stephen Colbert. it isn't a classic, but it's good for a quick read.
EDIT: Also enjoyed the audiobook. Maybe even more than the regular!
EDIT: Also enjoyed the audiobook. Maybe even more than the regular!
This book was exactly what I expected it to be based on the segments devoted to it on The Colbert Report: brief, silly and fun. The illustrations are cute and compliment the story's tone nicely. Colbert is clearly poking fun at the genre of children's literature, but the story is surprisingly resonant and clever. Although it certainly resembles a children's storybook, one should note that this book is definitely not for children, as there is a bit of adult content and a stripper is briefly featu...more
I hesitate to tag this "childrens," as there is at least one page that probably shouldn't be shared with the usual picture book crowd. However, beyond that, the use of puns and wordplay, as well as the overall Ugly Duckling story arc, would make it a superlative read aloud for youngsters. Among the recent spate of picture books that are more for adults than for children, this is squarely on the awesome side. I laughed out loud frequently, then smiled at its earnest conclusion. Mock children's bo...more
I'm convinced that all the people giving this book a low rating for being a terrible children's book are the same people who believe that the views expressed by the character Colbert plays on Comedy Central are real.
It's called satire, people!
If you did get it by the fact that the "award" marker on the cover has a pig flying. Maybe you need to get your sense of humor looked at. Or better yet the humor section of your book store, because that is where this book is located. Not the children's sec...more
It's called satire, people!
If you did get it by the fact that the "award" marker on the cover has a pig flying. Maybe you need to get your sense of humor looked at. Or better yet the humor section of your book store, because that is where this book is located. Not the children's sec...more
Jul 05, 2012
Lisa Vegan
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Lisa by:
Kathy
I guess this could be a good book for 4th of July, for adults, or maybe teens too. And I read it the day after 4th of July/the holiday weekend.
Somehow, this one just didn’t charm me as much as I’d expected. The most fun part of this book, for me, was the very, very, very short author’s bio on the inside back cover. That is funny, as are the other bios on the same spot. I also enjoyed the fun he poked at himself. Parts of the rhyme were funny. I didn’t particularly enjoy the illustrative style, b...more
Somehow, this one just didn’t charm me as much as I’d expected. The most fun part of this book, for me, was the very, very, very short author’s bio on the inside back cover. That is funny, as are the other bios on the same spot. I also enjoyed the fun he poked at himself. Parts of the rhyme were funny. I didn’t particularly enjoy the illustrative style, b...more
2 likes · like · see review
THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR CHILDREN. Unless the child is, maybe, 20 years old. Then, the kid will find it hilarious. Unless she doesn't like Stephen Colbert, in which case, you should probably disown her. Also, she's twenty; she's not a kid anymore, Dad. She's a grown woman, free to make her own mistakes. Unless those mistakes include not finding Colbert funny, in which case, wasn't she the mistake? Yeah, probably. That's why you should love your other kid more. The one to whom you should be giving...more
Picked this up in a bookstore and read through it, but didn't love it nearly enough to buy it. I feel like I expected too much from this one, because I am a huge fan of Colbert. It's funny, but kind of stupid Colbert funny instead of genius Colbert funny. There are definitely both kinds of funny on his show. And well, I like hearing the stupid jokes on the show too, but they're not what make me want to watch it as often as I do. Enough said. It was definitely fun to flip through, though, and I l...more
My boys and I noticed this book in the new arrivals section at the library. I figured it was not kid friendly because Colbert wrote it, but after flipping through the book it looked like a funny book about a pole who doesn't know who he is and later discovers he is a flag pole-- the best kind of pole.
What I WASN'T prepared for was a picture of a nearly naked g-string clad STRIPPER on a stripper pole halfway through the book. Seriously. 1 star might seem harsh, but any book that makes me have a...more
What I WASN'T prepared for was a picture of a nearly naked g-string clad STRIPPER on a stripper pole halfway through the book. Seriously. 1 star might seem harsh, but any book that makes me have a...more
2 likes · like · see review
I liked the book and the interview with Sendak even more. From publisher description--The inimitable Stephen Colbert conquers new territory with his first children's book...for adults. In January 2012, Stephen Colbert interviewed Maurice Sendak, and it was one of the most highly-rated and hilarious segments on The Colbert Report to date. During the interview, Colbert unveiled a children's book called I AM A POLE (AND SO CAN YOU!). There was an outpouring of enthusiasm for the book, which led to...more
This is definitely NOT a children's book, but it made me laugh out loud even before my coffee this morning. I sat down at the table while the water heated for my French Press and since it was lying there, I picked it up to read. The jokes begin with the front cover where a silver pig medal announces it's a "Caldecott Eligible Book" and continue poking his humor pole into the side of just about all the popular marketing techniques of politics and well self-published books (ending of course, with...more
If I had purchased this book, which I think was going for around $20 to $25, I would have been mad. Since instead I simply read it in the bookstore while waiting for my girlfriend to get coffee, I can say that it made me laugh. Maybe just a couple of times. It took me a few minutes to read through. And that was it. I was surprised at how very little there was to it, especially considering the bookstore had hundreds of copies stacked everywhere. Why would people spend so much for such a brief rea...more
Colbert's is insane lol. You don't get to listen to a children book with a stripper in it, so it's not for children actually.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by the great actor Tom Hanks.
The book is funny, delightful and clearly it's short. Less than 30 pages I guess and less than 7 minutes.
Here's Colbert promoting the book on Letterman's show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=benMq... ( FYI, the video is 13 minutes long, and the part about the book is only seconds long LOL. )
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by the great actor Tom Hanks.
The book is funny, delightful and clearly it's short. Less than 30 pages I guess and less than 7 minutes.
Here's Colbert promoting the book on Letterman's show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=benMq... ( FYI, the video is 13 minutes long, and the part about the book is only seconds long LOL. )
REALLY??
How is this written by Stephen Colbert?!
It's not for children. So, it has to be funny, right?
But... it's not!
Yes it takes three minutes to read, so it's not like I invested a lot in it, but it's disappointing and I'm surprised that Stephen Colbert actually published it. It seems like the type of thing you might joke about but not actually go through with.
Sadly, the funniest part is the list of "other books about Pole." The idea of this book is funnier than the actual follow-through.
How is this written by Stephen Colbert?!
It's not for children. So, it has to be funny, right?
But... it's not!
Yes it takes three minutes to read, so it's not like I invested a lot in it, but it's disappointing and I'm surprised that Stephen Colbert actually published it. It seems like the type of thing you might joke about but not actually go through with.
Sadly, the funniest part is the list of "other books about Pole." The idea of this book is funnier than the actual follow-through.
Much like Stephen himself, this was kinda funny, kinda stupid and surprisingly successful considered the apparently limited effect expended. Five minutes of my life I'll never get back, but I've wasted longer on dumber.
What was actually disappointing was the quality of the drawings. There are thousands of excellent illustrators out there who would sell their kids to illustrate a high-profile project like this, but the pictures looked as if they didn't take much longer than the writing itself.
What was actually disappointing was the quality of the drawings. There are thousands of excellent illustrators out there who would sell their kids to illustrate a high-profile project like this, but the pictures looked as if they didn't take much longer than the writing itself.
This could actually almost be a children's book (the page about being a stripper pole makes this decidedly *not* a children's book), but as it turns out, it's a pretty good spoof of children's lit. It also turns out that I Am a Pole is surprisingly moving in a patriotic sort of way. It's a curious combination of moving and irreverent. In the end, I think Maurice Sendak said it best; "The sad thing is, I like it!"
May 31, 2012
Heidi
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
picture-books,
fiction
I agree with Maurice Sendak: The sad thing is, I liked it. I did. I thought it clever and at times funny. And I liked when he found out what he was. Yep, I liked it--except for "that one part." If you read the book (or have heard talk of it as I had), you'll know what I mean. For that part, I'm grateful this was shelved in the adult section. But what adult is going to pull this while browsing in the 800s? I think this book will find most of its readers from reviews & word-of-mouth.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book Sliders: I Am A Pole (And You Can Too) by Stephen Colbert {May 2013} | 1 | 1 | May 22, 2013 03:41pm | |
| Daily Show / Colb...: I am a Pole (And So Can You!) ! | 7 | 28 | Apr 28, 2012 06:41pm |
Stephen Tyrone Colbert is an American comedian, satirist, actor, and writer known for his ironic style, particularly in his portrayal of uninformed opinion leaders and deadpan comedic delivery.
Colbert originally studied to be an actor, but became interested in improvisational theater when he met famed Second City director Del Close while attending Northwestern University. He first performed profes...more
More about Stephen Colbert...
Colbert originally studied to be an actor, but became interested in improvisational theater when he met famed Second City director Del Close while attending Northwestern University. He first performed profes...more
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