ALA Booklist (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Otto thinks presents are the most important part of a birthday, but his parents tell him he's got it all backward. But wait! Who has stolen Otto's birthday presents? As young readers join Otto on his cute quest in a cheery comic-book format, they have the opportunity to practice their reading skills and play word games that make use of rhymes, palindromes, and words spelled backward. The colors and drawings in this graphic novel are bright, appealing, and easily convey the emotions and actions of the characters, all of which assist emerging readers with comprehension and reduce the intimidation factor. Beginning readers may need assistance with understanding the backward text and dialogue at first, but once they grasp the key to Backwards World, they will have so much fun that they may try to incorporate its secret backward language into their nonreading time. Fortunately, it is through Otto's entertaining and engaging adventures in Backwards World that both he and the reader discover the most important part of a birthday: family.

Horn Book (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

It's cat Otto's birthday, and he cares more about presents and cake than friends and family. When Otto's birthday is stolen, he goes into a backwards land where palindromes, opposites, and all things "topsy-turvy" abound. Even birthdays are backwards there, which helps Otto figure out what they're really about. Bright cartoon illustrations and a graphic-novel format will engage emergent readers.

Kirkus Reviews (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

A quick trip to the "backwards world" straightens out Otto the cat's priorities as well as his spelling. Having blithely announced that birthdays are more about cake, ice cream, balloons and, especially, gifts than family and friends, Otto is understandably peeved when all his party trappings are stolen. Following the thief through a gateway dubbed "the Palindrome" leads Otto to a cube-shaped world. There, garbage is dropped on the ground rather than in cans, and clothes are reversed ("Maybe next time you'll listen to your mom and wear clean underwear," snarks companion robot Toot). An adventuresome chase leads to the lair of Evil Olive--a tubby, green gent in the bright, cleanly drawn cartoon illustrations, topped with a red fez in place of a pimiento. Strewn with palindromes and reversed words that even emergent readers will have no trouble decoding, the miniodyssey leaves Otto in the right place: back home, partying with newly appreciated friends and family until latest invitee Evil Olive arrives with the stolen goodies. A snappy follow-up to Otto's Orange Day (2008), gift-wrapped around a worthy theme and frosted with tasty wordplay. (Graphic early reader. 5-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Five years after Otto-s Orange Day, Cammuso and Lynch return with Otto the cat-s second adventure. Luckily for Otto, his birthday is tomorrow; unluckily, someone has stolen his gifts. Catching a glimpse of the thief, Otto follows the perpetrator into Professor Barkwords-s doghouse laboratory. Readers get a crash course in palindromes (and what-s really important where birthdays are concerned) as Otto travels through the professor-s gateway to -the backwards world... a world very much like our own, except that everything is backwards, topsy-turvy,- Barkwords explains. Otto will be fine there, since his name is a palindrome, and so will his companion, a robot named Toot who can transform into a race car and kayak (palindromes, as well). The oddities of the backwards world provide fast-paced thrills as Otto and Toot are pursued by the -star rats- police force (-Rats chasing a cat! That is backwards!- quips Otto) and find out who stole Otto-s birthday loot. There-s a message about the importance of friends and family underlying the story, but Cammuso-s action-packed cartooning keeps the emphasis on fun. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)

School Library Journal (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Gr 1-4 Otto is in for another crazy adventure when he stumbles upon preparations for his own surprise birthday party. Greed takes over, and he wants his party right then and there. His mother reminds him that all of his friends are coming the next day, his real birthday, but he doesn't care. He thinks cake, ice cream, balloons, and gifts are the most important parts of a celebration and not his family and friends. "I think you've got things backwards," says his father, and the young cat learns that there is more to a birthday than sweets and treats. Cammuso and Lynch are masterful at creating a comic that will appeal to children while at the same time imparting a simple lesson. The illustrations are colorful and attractive. The story is laid out in easy-to-follow panels that will allow even beginning readers to follow it. Otto will find an audience among fans of Ashley Spires's Binky the Space Cat (Kids Can, 2009) and Nadja Spiegelman's "Zig and Wikki" books (Toon). Carol Hirsche, Provo City Library, UT