Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collections
Publication
Grand Central Publishing (2012), Hardcover
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 a demand for the real thing. So, here it is"--Provided by publisher.
User reviews
LibraryThing member avidmom
An inspirational and patriotic tale of one pole's search for self-realization. Destined to become a classic. I will never look at a pole the same way again. The two minutes it took to read this book changed my life forever!
If you don't want to take the time to read it, you can wait for the movie to
If you don't want to take the time to read it, you can wait for the movie to
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be released "summer-ish later this decade" granted that someone picks up the movie rights. Show Less
LibraryThing member DieFledermaus
I was going to like this book no matter what as it was written by Stephen Colbert and I’ll pretty much buy whatever he writes, vote for him in any contest or donate to any charity that he supports. It is a fun book all the same. The genesis of the book was on Stephen’s show, in a segment where
The blurbs on the front and back are part of the sly visual jokes that pepper this book and make it fun for adults also. Sendak provides another quote on the back “Terribly, supremely ordinary” and Stephen blurbs his own book. He also has a notice on the back informing you that for further information about poles, you should purchase another copy. A silver medal on the cover lets you know that this is a Caldecott eligible book and features a picture of Stephen riding a flying pig. The story follows a familiar template – X is looking for something or trying to do something, makes several attempts then finally gets it right in the end. The protagonist pole tries out various jobs – ski pole, fishing pole etc – before discovering its calling as a flag pole
This would be a perfectly enjoyable book for children though of course the much-discussed stripper pole reference might need to be explained (or maybe not, when I think back on children’s books that I read, I realize that a lot of the time I didn’t know what was really going on). The contrasts between words and pictures continue – the pole notes that it’s hard to get jobs as a fireman’s pole or a fishing pole, but in the pictures, pole is annoyed that the fire station Dalmatian is peeing on it and is disgusted by the worm hanging off of it. The illustration of the pole as a telephone pole appears normal, but in the text the pole recalls “that summer with the phone poles, getting totally strung out.” At the end, all the characters (including Sendak and a president who is clearly Obama) gather around to salute the flag but the injured pole vaulter is missing (one hopes pole doesn’t have that on its conscience) and the angry couple bothered by Gallup poll refuses to come also. If there was one thing I’d change – would want more asterisked notes, as there were only a couple and they were funny. As Stephen says, this would be good for ‘high school or college graduation. Also, Father’s Day. Also, other times.”
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he interviewed Maurice Sendak and decided to get on the bandwagon of celebrities who write children’s books. After giving Sendak his story of a pole who can’t decide what kind of pole he’s going to be, Sendak commented, “The sad thing is, I like it” which is used as a blurb. Sendak makes a cameo at the end of the book but, sadly, died the day the book came out.The blurbs on the front and back are part of the sly visual jokes that pepper this book and make it fun for adults also. Sendak provides another quote on the back “Terribly, supremely ordinary” and Stephen blurbs his own book. He also has a notice on the back informing you that for further information about poles, you should purchase another copy. A silver medal on the cover lets you know that this is a Caldecott eligible book and features a picture of Stephen riding a flying pig. The story follows a familiar template – X is looking for something or trying to do something, makes several attempts then finally gets it right in the end. The protagonist pole tries out various jobs – ski pole, fishing pole etc – before discovering its calling as a flag pole
This would be a perfectly enjoyable book for children though of course the much-discussed stripper pole reference might need to be explained (or maybe not, when I think back on children’s books that I read, I realize that a lot of the time I didn’t know what was really going on). The contrasts between words and pictures continue – the pole notes that it’s hard to get jobs as a fireman’s pole or a fishing pole, but in the pictures, pole is annoyed that the fire station Dalmatian is peeing on it and is disgusted by the worm hanging off of it. The illustration of the pole as a telephone pole appears normal, but in the text the pole recalls “that summer with the phone poles, getting totally strung out.” At the end, all the characters (including Sendak and a president who is clearly Obama) gather around to salute the flag but the injured pole vaulter is missing (one hopes pole doesn’t have that on its conscience) and the angry couple bothered by Gallup poll refuses to come also. If there was one thing I’d change – would want more asterisked notes, as there were only a couple and they were funny. As Stephen says, this would be good for ‘high school or college graduation. Also, Father’s Day. Also, other times.”
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LibraryThing member bragan
A while back, The Colbert Report did a terrific two-part interview with Maurice Sendak, in which Sendak was crusty and snarky and tell-it-like-it-is in all the best possible ways. It was utterly hilarious and gave me a new appreciation and respect for Sendak, and, in the wake of his recent death,
This is, of course, a tale written by Colbert's over-the-top, flag-worshiping, ultra-conservative TV personality, and contains at least a little of his sly, satirical, adult-oriented humor. And yet, it's also a cute and mostly innocuous story about a pole, and I wouldn't necessarily have a problem giving it to a kid who hadn't yet fully grasped the concept of satire, assuming I didn't mind them asking me what a stripper pole is and was around to explain one or two of the jokes (and probably why you shouldn't actually talk like Colbert at his most faux-clueless). The illustrations are rather charming, too.
I do suspect that only big Colbert fans are going to want this one. But if you're a big Colbert fan, come on, you know you want it.
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it's also a little poignant to look back on. At the end of the interview, Colbert decides he needs to break into this lucrative kids' book market, and reads Sendak his newly written tale of a pole trying to decide what kind of pole he ought to be. Sendak's memorable response is, "The sad thing is, I like it." I did, too, so I had to pick up the book version.This is, of course, a tale written by Colbert's over-the-top, flag-worshiping, ultra-conservative TV personality, and contains at least a little of his sly, satirical, adult-oriented humor. And yet, it's also a cute and mostly innocuous story about a pole, and I wouldn't necessarily have a problem giving it to a kid who hadn't yet fully grasped the concept of satire, assuming I didn't mind them asking me what a stripper pole is and was around to explain one or two of the jokes (and probably why you shouldn't actually talk like Colbert at his most faux-clueless). The illustrations are rather charming, too.
I do suspect that only big Colbert fans are going to want this one. But if you're a big Colbert fan, come on, you know you want it.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
My friend and I watched the interview Stephen Colbert did with Maurice Sendak and we quickly realized that this was in fact a real book. We decided we needed to read it. It's pretty funny and the illustrations add to the humor. Definitely not child appropriate.
LibraryThing member dcoward
Mildly amusing, but only mildly. Unless it's for charity, I don't really see the point of it. Not up to Colbert's usualy standards.
LibraryThing member ruthiekro
Oh Stephen, you can pretty much do no wrong. Clever with cute illustrations.
LibraryThing member Lostshadows
The story fails to build any suspense. Character development is weak. Many potential subplots featuring minor characters are never explored. And I saw the ending coming a mile away.
To sum up, it's cute and funny.
To sum up, it's cute and funny.
LibraryThing member CassieLM
I thought this was hillarious. My favorite part was the back flap with the About the Author etc.
LibraryThing member Gregorio_Roth
I am a Pole and So Can You is about being a Pole and finding the right use for your rather large rod.
LibraryThing member Doondeck
Typical Colbert humor. Funny but not for little kids
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
My friend and I watched the interview Stephen Colbert did with Maurice Sendak and we quickly realized that this was in fact a real book. We decided we needed to read it. It's pretty funny and the illustrations add to the humor. Definitely not child appropriate.
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
My friend and I watched the interview Stephen Colbert did with Maurice Sendak and we quickly realized that this was in fact a real book. We decided we needed to read it. It's pretty funny and the illustrations add to the humor. Definitely not child appropriate.
LibraryThing member ThothJ
Very funny and yet also moving.
LibraryThing member ThothJ
Very funny and yet also moving.
LibraryThing member ThothJ
Very funny and yet also moving.
LibraryThing member ThothJ
Very funny and yet also moving.
LibraryThing member Sarah_Buckley
Stephen Colbert is amazing and hilarious. This was a short (very short) read that was well worth the 9 bucks I spent on it.
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
My friend and I watched the interview Stephen Colbert did with Maurice Sendak and we quickly realized that this was in fact a real book. We decided we needed to read it. It's pretty funny and the illustrations add to the humor. Definitely not child appropriate.
LibraryThing member Platicorn
It sucked.
Language
Original publication date
2012
Physical description
11.02 inches
ISBN
1455523429 / 9781455523429
Local notes
A pole finds his purpose in life.
During a January 2012 interview of Maurice Sendak by Colbert, Colbert shared a draft of the book with him, to which Sendak stated "The sad thing is, I like it!" - this is the blurb on the front cover.
During a January 2012 interview of Maurice Sendak by Colbert, Colbert shared a draft of the book with him, to which Sendak stated "The sad thing is, I like it!" - this is the blurb on the front cover.