PERLMAN, Rhea 1948–

PERSONAL

Born March 31, 1948, in Brooklyn, NY; daughter of Philip (a doll and toy part salesman and actor) and Adele Perlman; married Danny DeVito (an actor), 1981 (some sources cite January 8 or 28, 1982); children: Lucy Chet, Gracie Fan, Jake Daniel Sebastian. Education: Hunter College of the City University of New York, degree in drama.

Addresses: Agent— Creative Artists Agency, 9830 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212–1804; International Creative Management, 8942 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211. Publicist— Stan Rosenfield & Associates, 2029 Century Park East, Suite 1190, Los Angeles, CA 90067.

Career: Actress and producer. Colonnades Theatre Lab, New York City, founder; New Street Productions (a production company), founder (with Danny DeVito).

Awards, Honors: Emmy Award nominations, outstanding supporting actress in a comedy, variety, or music series, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, Emmy Awards, outstanding supporting actress in a comedy, variety, or music series, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, Golden Globe Award nominations, best supporting actress in a television series, miniseries, or telefilm, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, Q Award, best supporting actress in a quality comedy series, Viewers for Quality Television, 1985, and American Comedy Award, George Schlatter Productions, funniest supporting female on television, 1989, all for Cheers.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Vince's wife, Likely Stories, Vol. 2, 1983.

Carla (Maria Victoria Angelina Teresa Apollonia Lozupone) Tortelli LeBec, Cheers, NBC, 1982–1993.

Pearl Caraldo (title role), Pearl, CBS, 1996.

Abbie Schaeffer, Kate Brasher, CBS, 2001.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Rae Finer, I Want to Keep My Baby!, CBS, 1976.

Jean, Stalk the Wild Child, NBC, 1976.

Cheryl, Having Babies II, ABC, 1977.

Judy, Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night, CBS, 1977.

Intimate Strangers (also known as Battered!), ABC, 1977.

Jan, Like Normal People, ABC, 1979.

Tawney Shapiro, Drop–Out Father, CBS, 1982.

Francine Kester, The Ratings Game (also known as The Mogul), The Movie Channel, 1984.

Claudia, Dangerous Affection (also known as Stamp of a Killer), NBC, 1987.

Shirley, To Grandmother's House We Go, ABC, 1992.

Jerri Blair, A Place To Be Loved (also known as A Place To Be and Shattered Family), CBS, 1993.

Emma, Spoils of War (also known as In Spite of Love), ABC, 1994.

Esther, Houdini, TNT, 1998.

Phyllis Markowitz, In the Doghouse, Showtime, 1998.

Ms. Beezlebug, H–E Double Hockey Sticks, ABC, 1999.

Thelma, A Tail of Two Bunnies (also known as The Price of Beauty), ABC, 2000.

Dr. Parella, Secret Cutting (also known as Painful Secrets and Le secret de Dawn), USA Network, 2000.

Jackie Kennedy, How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale (also known as How to Marry a Billionaire), Fox, 2000.

Also appeared in the movie Death of a Sibling.

Television Appearances; Specials:

The NBC All–Star Hour, NBC, 1985.

Voice of Rose Johnson, "Happily Ever After," Wonder-Works (animated), PBS, 1985.

NBC's 60th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1986.

(Uncredited) Comic Relief, 1986.

Mickey's 60th Birthday Special, NBC, 1988.

Candid Camera: The First Forty Years, CBS, 1987.

Constitutional caterer, Funny, You Don't Look 200 (also known as Funny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville), ABC, 1987.

Sesame Street Special (also known as Put Down the Duckie), PBS, 1988.

Host, Who Cares for the Children?, PBS, 1988.

Aunt Dee, A Family Again, ABC, 1988.

Voice of Rose Johnson, "Two Daddies?," WonderWorks, PBS, 1989.

Time Warner Presents the Earth Day Special, ABC, 1990.

Super Bloopers and New Practical Jokes, NBC, 1990.

Sinatra 75: The Best Is Yet to Come (also known as Frank Sinatra: 75th Birthday Celebration), CBS, 1990.

"Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration," The Magical World of Disney, NBC, 1990.

Cheers: Special 200th Episode Celebration, NBC, 1990.

Miss Gizborne, The Last Halloween, CBS, 1991.

The Selling of Vince D'Angelo, Showtime, 1992.

Back to School '92 (also known as Education First!), CBS, 1992.

Last Call! A Cheers' Celebration, NBC, 1993.

Best of Taxi (also known as Hey Taxi), CBS, 1994.

"Worm TV" disc jockey, Sesame Street's All–Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever, ABC, 1994.

Earth Day at Walt Disney World, The Disney Channel, 1996.

Night of About 14 CBS Stars, CBS, 1996.

(Uncredited) Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live at Aspen (also known as US Comedy Arts Festival Tribute to Monty Python, 1998.

The Frasier Story, Channel 4, 1999.

Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Primetime Special, NBC, 1999.

A Home for the Holidays, CBS, 1999.

Voice of Agnes, A Scooby–Doo Halloween (animated), Warner Bros., 1999.

(In archive footage) Mouthing Off: 51 Greatest Smartasses, Comedy Central, 2000.

Cheers: The E! True Hollywood Story (documentary), E! Entertainment Television, 2000.

NBC 75th Anniversary Special, NBC, 2002.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

The 41st Annual Emmy Awards, Fox, 1989.

The 3rd Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1989.

"The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards," The Magical World of Disney, The Disney Channel, 1990.

The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1996.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Carla Tortelli, The Tortellis, NBC, 1987.

Mrs. Wabash, Other People's Business, The WB, 2004.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Zena Sherman, "Louie and the Nice Girl," Taxi, ABC, 1979.

Zena Sherman, "Louis Meets the Folks," Taxi, ABC, 1979.

Zena Sherman, "Louie's Rival," Taxi, ABC, 1980.

Zena Sherman, "Louie's Fling," Taxi, ABC, 1981.

Zena Sherman, "Zena's Honeymoon," Taxi, NBC, 1982.

Annette Lozupone, "Little Sister, Dontcha," Cheers, NBC, 1983.

Cohost, Saturday Night Live, 1983.

Carla, "Cheers," St. Elsewhere, 1985.

Lois, "The Wedding Ring," Amazing Stories, NBC, 1986.

Saturday Night Live, 1987.

"The Network," Matlock, NBC, 1987.

The godmother, "Dad's Girlfriend," Blossom, 1991.

Connie Mason, "The Stan Who Came to Dinner," Roc, 1991.

Narrator, "Bootsie Barker Bites," Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories, Showtime, 1992.

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, 1993.

Voice of Carla Tortelli LeBec, "Fear of Flying," The Simpsons (animated), Fox, 1994.

Voice of Ardeth, "Sherman, Woman, and Child," The Critic (animated), 1995.

Voice of Ardeth, "From Chunk to Hunk," The Critic (animated), 1995.

The Rosie O'Donnell Show, 1996.

Late Show with David Letterman, 1996, 1997.

Mrs. Eileen Mulrooney, "Harassed," Union Square, NBC, 1997.

Herself, "Dating for Ratings," Almost Perfect, 1997.

Mrs. Ramona Dichristophoro, "Valentine's Day," Mad about You, NBC, 1999.

Dr. Katherine Simmons, "Psycho Therapy," Becker, CBS, 2001.

Dr. Helen Tooth, "Falling Up," Ally McBeal, Fox, 2001.

Interviewee, Tracey Ullman's Visible Panty Lines, Oxygen, 2001.

Carla Tortelli LeBec, "Cheerful Goodbyes," Frasier, NBC, 2002.

The View, ABC, 2002.

Louise Salcheck, "Dumb Bunnies," Karen Sisco, ABC, 2003.

Appeared as woman in counseling session, Angie.

Television Work; Executive Producer:

(With Tony Thomas and Paul Junger Witt) Pearl, CBS, 1996.

Film Appearances:

Woman on ferry, Hot Dogs for Gauguin, 1972.

Mother, Swap Meet, 1979.

(Uncredited) Little Jewish prostitute, National Lampoon Goes to the Movies (also known as National Lampoon's Movie Madness), 1981.

June Burns, Love Child, Warner Bros., 1982.

Voice of Reeka, My Little Pony: The Movie (animated), De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, 1986.

Mavis, Over Her Dead Body (also known as Enid Is Sleeping), Vestron Video, 1990.

Grace, Ted and Venus, Double Helix Films, 1991.

Miss Joanne Simpson, Class Act, Warner Bros., 1992.

Lois, "The Wedding Ring," Amazing Stories: Book One, 1992.

Voice of 9–Eye, From Time to Time (also known as Timekeeper and Le visionarium), 1992.

Lydia Nunn, There Goes the Neighborhood (also known as Paydirt), Paramount, 1992.

Voice of Mother Bird, We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (animated), Universal, 1993.

Deputy Honey, Canadian Bacon, Gramercy, 1995.

Zinnia Wormwood, Matilda (also known as Mathilda and Roald Dahl's Matilda), TriStar, 1996.

Phyllis Saroka, Sunset Park (also known as Coach), TriStar, 1996.

Martha the meter maid, Carpool, Warner Bros., 1996.

Also appeared in the films Final Analysis; Love in Venice; Radio Flyer; in the short films Minestrone and The Sound Sleeper.

Stage Appearances:

Lorna, "Ellis Takes His Life Again," What! And Leave Bloomingdale's?, Theatre of the Little Church around the Corner, New York City, 1973.

Columbine, A Phantasmagoria Historia of D. Johann Fausten Magister, PHD, MD, DD, DL, Etc., Truck and Warehouse Theatre, New York City, 1973.

(Broadway debut) Marjorie, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 2002.

Also appeared in Vinyl Visits an FM Station.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Entertainment Weekly, October 4, 1999.

Perlman, Rhea 1948–

PERSONAL:

Born March 31, 1948, in Brooklyn, NY; daughter of Philip (a doll and toy- part salesman and actor) and Adele Perlman; married Danny DeVito (an actor), 1981; children: Lucy Chet, Gracie Fan, Jake Daniel Sebastian. Education: Hunter College, City University of New York, degree. Politics: Democrat.

ADDRESSES:

Agent—International Creative Management, 8942 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

CAREER:

Actor and author. Formerly worked as a waitress, telephone salesperson, and as a secretary. Stage appearances include (as Lorna) What! And Leave Bloomingdale's?, New York, NY, 1973; (as Columbine) A Phantasmagoria Historia of D. Johann Fausten Magister, PHD, MD, DD, DL, Etc., New York, NY, 1973; (as Marjorie; Broadway debut) The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, New York, NY, 2002; and (as Bertha) Boeing Boeing, London, England, 2006.

Feature film credits include: (as Woman on ferry) Hot Dogs for Gauguin, 1972; (as Mother), Swap Meet, 1979; (as June Burns) Love Child, Warner Bros., 1982; (as voice of Reeka) My Little Pony: The Movie (animated), De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, 1986; (as Mavis) Over Her Dead Body, Vestron Video, 1990; (as Grace) Ted and Venus, Double Helix Films, 1991; (as Miss Joanne Simpson) Class Act, Warner Bros., 1992; (as Lois) "The Wedding Ring," Amazing Stories: Book One, 1992; (as voice of 9-Eye) From Time to Time, 1992; (as Lydia Nunn) There Goes the Neighborhood, Paramount, 1992; (as Voice of Mother Bird) We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (animated), Universal, 1993; (as Deputy Honey) Canadian Bacon, Gramercy, 1995; (as Zinnia Wormwood) Matilda, TriStar, 1996; (as Phyllis Saroka) Sunset Park, TriStar, 1996; (as Martha the meter maid) Carpool, Warner Bros., 1996; and Final Analysis; Love in Venice; Radio Flyer; and short films Minestrone and The Sound Sleeper.

Television film credits include: (as Rae Finer) I Want to Keep My Baby!, CBS, 1976; (as Jean) Stalk the Wild Child, NBC, 1976; (as Cheryl) Having Babies II, ABC, 1977; (as Judy) Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night, CBS, 1977; Intimate Strangers, ABC, 1977; (as Jan) Like Normal People, ABC, 1979; (as Tawney Shapiro) Drop-Out Father, CBS, 1982; (as Francine Kester) The Ratings Game, The Movie Channel, 1984; (as Claudia) Dangerous Affection, NBC, 1987; (as Shirley) To Grandmother's House We Go, ABC, 1992; (as Jerri Blair) A Place to Be Loved, CBS, 1993; (as Emma) Spoils of War, ABC, 1994; (as Esther) Houdini, TNT, 1998; (as Phyllis Markowitz) In the Doghouse, Showtime, 1998; (as Ms. Beezlebug) H-E Double Hockey Sticks, ABC, 1999; (as Thelma) A Tail of Two Bunnies, ABC, 2000; (as Dr. Parella) Secret Cutting, USA Network, 2000; (as Jackie Kennedy) How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale, Fox, 2000; (as Mrs. Wabash) Other People's Business, 2003; (as Penny) Stroller Wars, 2006; and (as Reisel) Love Comes Lately, 2007. Television series credits include Likely Stories, Volume II, 1983; Cheers, NBC, 1982-1993; Pearl, CBS, 1996; and Kate Brasher, CBS, 2001; as well as appearances on Taxi, 1979-82, Saturday Night Live, 1983, 1987, Amazing Stories, 1987, Matlock, 1987, The Simpsons, 1994, Mad about You, 1999, Ally McBeal, 2001, Frazier, 2002, Karen Sisco, 2003; and Keven Hill, 2004.

Presenter in numerous network television specials and awards presentations, beginning 1985. Executive producer of television series Pearl, 1996, and film Bye Bye Benjamin, 2006.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Emmy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, and awards, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a Television Series, 1989, Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, and TV Land Legend Award (with others), 2006, all for Cheers. Volunteer for literacy advocacy groups.

WRITINGS:

"OTTO UNDERCOVER" SERIES

Born to Drive, illustrated by Dan Santat, Katherine Tegen Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Canyon Catastrophe, illustrated by Dan Santat, Katherine Tegen Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Water Balloon Doom, illustrated by Dan Santat, Katherine Tegen Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Toxic Taffy Takeover, illustrated by Dan Santat, Katherine Tegen Books (New York, NY), 2006.

The Brink of Ex-Stink-Tion, illustrated by Dan Santat, Katherine Tegen Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Brain Freeze, illustrated by Dan Santat, Katherine Tegen Books (New York, NY), 2007.

SIDELIGHTS:

Many adults know Rhea Perlman as the Emmy Award-winning actress who starred as Carla Tortelli on the long-running television series Cheers, which aired on CBS from 1982 until 1993. To young readers, however, Perlman's name recognition comes as the author of the "Otto Undercover" series, which features a mix of humor and fast action in titles such as Born to Drive, Canyon Catastrophe, Water Balloon Doom, Toxic Taffy Takeover, Brink of Ex-stink-tion, and Brain Freeze. Each book in the series is noted for its wordplay, and includes anagrams, palindromes, and words spelled backwards for comic effect.

In series opener Born to Drive, readers meet Otto Pillip, a precocious preteen inventor and race-car driver who has built the fastest car on Earth. Living with his aunts FiFi and FooFoo since his parents set off on an expedition to discover a missing continent, Otto must rescue racecar (note the palindrome) from two elementary-school dropouts who hope to use it to win the million-dollar prize at the upcoming Yazoo 200 auto race. Canyon Catastrophe finds Otto Pillip working as an undercover agent, this time hoping to stop a villain bent on bombing the Grand Canyon, and in Water Balloon Doom his nemesis is the evil Prune Man, a ne'er-do-well hoping to take over the planet's ocean water. A hypnotist able to exert mind-control through a potent candy recipe is the focus of Toxic Taffy Takeover, while a particularly smelly evildoer terrorizes Africa in The Brink of Ex-Stink-tion, until Otto and Racecar come to the continent's aid. I-Skreem, a villain who is somehow involved in the disappearance of Otto's parents, is the focus of Brain Freeze, the concluding volume in Perlman's series. Perlman "breaks the novel into tiny, easy-to-digest bits," in order to make the books "a fun read, especially for hard-to-motivate readers," explained Walter Minkel in his School Library Journal review of Canyon Catastrophe. While a Publishers Weekly contributor found the story in Born to Drive somewhat "slim," the critic noted that illustrator Dan Santat's "brash cartoons" inject energy to the upbeat story, and commented that readers would enjoy decoding the story's wordplay (help is hidden in the margin of each page).

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Entertainment Weekly, October 4, 1999.

Publishers Weekly, December 19, 2005, review of Born to Drive, p. 65.

School Library Journal, July, 2006, Walter Minkel, review of Born to Drive, p. 109; January, 2007, H.H. Henderson, review of Water Balloon Doom, p. 100.

ONLINE

Otto Undercover Web site,http://www.ottoundercover.com (October 27, 2007).

Perlman, Rhea 1948-

Personal

Born March 31, 1948, in Brooklyn, NY; daughter of Philip (a doll and toy part salesman and actor) and Adele Perlman; married Danny DeVito (an actor), 1981; children: Lucy Chet, Gracie Fan, Jake Daniel Sebastian. Education: Hunter College, City University of New York, degree. Politics: Democrat.

Addresses

Agent—International Creative Management, 8942 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

Career

Actor and author. Formerly worked as a waitress, telephone salesperson, and as a secretary. Stage appearances include (as Lorna) What! And Leave Bloomingdale's?, New York, NY, 1973; (as Columbine) A Phantasmagoria Historia of D. Johann Fausten Magister, PHD, MD, DD, DL, Etc., New York, NY, 1973; (as Marjorie; Broadway debut) The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, New York, NY, 2002; and (as Bertha) Boeing Boeing, London, England, 2006. Feature film credits include: (as Woman on ferry) Hot Dogs for Gauguin, 1972; (as Mother), Swap Meet,1979; (as June Burns) Love Child, Warner Bros., 1982; (as voice of Reeka) My Little Pony: The Movie (animated), De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, 1986; (as Mavis) Over Her Dead Body, Vestron Video, 1990; (as Grace) Ted and Venus, Double Helix Films, 1991; (as Miss Joanne Simpson) Class Act, Warner Bros., 1992; (as Lois) "The Wedding Ring," Amazing Stories: Book One, 1992; (as voice of 9-Eye) From Time to Time, 1992; (as Lydia Nunn) There Goes the Neighborhood, Paramount, 1992; (as voice of Mother Bird) We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (animated), Universal, 1993; (as Deputy Honey) Canadian Bacon, Gramercy, 1995; (as Zinnia Wormwood) Matilda, TriStar, 1996; (as Phyllis Saroka) Sunset Park, TriStar, 1996; (as Martha the meter maid) Carpool, Warner Bros., 1996; and Final Analysis; Love in Venice; Radio Flyer; and short films Minestrone and The Sound Sleeper. Television film credits include: (as Rae Finer) I Want to Keep My Baby!, CBS, 1976; (as Jean) Stalk the Wild Child, NBC, 1976; (as Cheryl) Having Babies II, ABC, 1977; (as Judy) Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night, CBS, 1977; Intimate Strangers, ABC, 1977; (as Jan) Like Normal People, ABC, 1979; (as Tawney Shapiro) Drop-Out Father, CBS, 1982; (as Francine Kester) The Ratings Game, The Movie Channel, 1984; (as Claudia) Dangerous Affection, NBC, 1987; (as Shirley) To Grandmother's House We Go, ABC, 1992; (as Jerri Blair) A Place to Be Loved, CBS, 1993; (as Emma) Spoils of War, ABC, 1994; (as Esther) Houdini, TNT, 1998; (as Phyllis Markowitz) In the Doghouse, Showtime, 1998; (as Ms. Beezlebug) H-E Double Hockey Sticks, ABC, 1999; (as Thelma) A Tail of Two Bunnies, ABC, 2000; (as Dr. Parella) Secret

Cutting, USA Network, 2000; (as Jackie Kennedy) How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale, Fox, 2000; (as Mrs. Wabash) Other People's Business, 2003; (as Penny) Stroller Wars, 2006; and (as Reisel) Love Comes Lately, 2007. Television series credits include Likely Stories, Volume II, 1983; Cheers, NBC, 1982-1993; Pearl, CBS, 1996; and Kate Brasher, CBS, 2001; as well as appearances on Taxi, 1979-82, Saturday Night Live, 1983, 1987, Amazing Stories, 1987, Matlock, 1987, The Simpsons, 1994, Mad about You, 1999, Ally McBeal, 2001, Frazier, 2002, Karen Sisco, 2003; and Keven Hill, 2004. Presenter in numerous network television specials and awards presentations, beginning 1985. Executive producer of television series Pearl, 1996, and film Bye Bye Benjamin, 2006.

Awards, Honors

Emmy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, and awards, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a Television Series, 1989, Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, and TV Land Legend Award (with others), 2006, all for Cheers. Volunteer for literacy advocacy groups.

Writings

"OTTO UNDERCOVER" SERIES

Born to Drive, illustrated by Dan Santat, Katherine Tegen Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Canyon Catastrophe, illustrated by Dan Santat, Katherine Tegen Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Water Balloon Doom, illustrated by Dan Santat, Katherine Tegen Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Toxic Taffy Takeover, illustrated by Dan Santat, Katherine Tegen Books (New York, NY), 2006.

The Brink of Ex-Stink-Tion, illustrated by Dan Santat, Katherine Tegen Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Brain Freeze, illustrated by Dan Santat, Katherine Tegen Books (New York, NY), 2007.

Sidelights

Many adults know Rhea Perlman as the Emmy Award-winning actress who starred as Carla Tortelli on the long-running television series Cheers, which aired on CBS from 1982 until 1993. To young readers, however, Perlman's name recognition comes as the author of the "Otto Undercover" series, which features a mix of humor and fast action in titles such as Born to Drive, Canyon Catastrophe, Water Balloon Doom, Toxic Taffy Takeover, Brink of Ex-stink-tion, and Brain Freeze. Each book in the series is noted for its wordplay and includes anagrams, palindromes, and words spelled backwards for comic effect.

In series opener Born to Drive readers meet Otto Pillip, a precocious preteen inventor and race-car driver who has built the fastest car on Earth. Living with his aunts FiFi and FooFoo since his parents set off on an expedition to discover a missing continent, Otto must rescue racecar (note the palindrome) from two elementary-school dropouts who hope to use it to win the million-dollar prize at the upcoming Yazoo 200 auto race. Canyon Catastrophe finds Otto working as an undercover agent, this time hoping to stop a villain bent on bombing the Grand Canyon, and in Water Balloon Doom his nemesis is the evil Prune Man, a ne'er-do-well hoping to take over the planet's ocean water. A hypnotist able to exert mind-control through a potent candy recipe is the focus of Toxic Taffy Takeover, while a particularly smelly evildoer terrorizes Africa in The Brink of Ex-Stink-tion, until Otto and Racecar come to the continent's aid. I-Skreem, a villain who is somehow involved in the disappearance of Otto's parents, is the focus of Brain Freeze, the concluding volume in Perlman's series. Perlman "breaks the novel into tiny, easy-to-digest bits," in order to make the books "a fun read, especially for hard-to-motivate readers," explained Walter Minkel in his School Library Journal review of Canyon Catastrophe. While a Publishers Weekly contributor found the story in Born to Drive somewhat "slim," the critic noted that illustrator Dan Santat's "brash cartoons" inject energy to the upbeat story, and commented that readers would enjoy decoding the story's wordplay (help is hidden in the margin of each page).

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Entertainment Weekly, October 4, 1999.

Publishers Weekly, December 19, 2005, review of Born to Drive, p. 65.

School Library Journal, July, 2006, Walter Minkel, review of Born to Drive, p. 109; January, 2007, H.H. Henderson, review of Water Balloon Doom, p. 100.

ONLINE

Otto Undercover Web site,http://www.ottoundercover.com/ (October 27, 2007).