If your kids love wordplay as much as mine do, then Ann and Nan are Anagrams: A Mixed-Up Word Dilemma is going to be their new favorite book. With more than 101 anagrams hidden throughout the narrative and wonderful illustrations, it’s part kids’ storybook, part brain-teaser, part Where’s Waldo for the future word nerds and grammar geeks of the world.
I say that in the most loving way possible, by the way.
The story centers around Robert (Or Bert) in a world gone seriously crazy. A poster in a street scene may be advertising Mister Timers or Charming Marching school. The movies playing (at Iceman Cinema, natch) include The Sacred and the Scared, and Miles of Slime. The diner serves curly fries and fly curries. (Ew.) And a schoolmaster is seen teaching vowels to wolves, and feeding presents to serpents.
With fun like that, the plot of Ann and Nan are Anagrams is almost besides the point. And yet there is one, and it’s hilarious.
Author Mark Shulman and Adam McCauley have done a marvelous job with this fun kids’ book and you can tell they had the best time creating it. Which is exactly why your kids will have the best time reading it. Whether it’s a grade-schooler determined to find all 101 anagrams herself, or an early reader who will just enjoy identifying the same three letters are found in eat, ate, and tea, this is a great book for those of you parents whose dream is to have a kid who can beat you at Boggle. Surely that’s not just me.
Find Ann and Nan are Anagrams: A Mixed-Up Word Dilemma at our affiliate Amazon or your local independent bookseller. For more word fun for kids, also check out Wumbers.
