DOODLE DANDIES

   Biography:

Lewis, Patrick J. 1998. DOODLE DANDIES: POEMS THAT TAKE SHAPE. ILL. By Lisa Desimini. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN-10: 068981075X

Plot Summary:

Doodle Dandies is a collection of nineteen short poems that take the shape of the subject.  The topics include; footsteps in mud, the dachshund puppy, a giraffe, baseballs, tree, an umbrella, a butterfly, winter, and a skyscraper. 

Critical Analysis: 

 This book is an attention-getter, with concrete poems that include animals, sports and the outdoors.  While some of the poems rhyme, other are only one sentence long, making it is easy and fun to read.  It is great for introducing a lesson on shape poems.   The author writes the poems in ways that create imagery.    The poem, “Weeping Willow” for example is written in the shape of a tall tree with long, flowy branches.  The reader feels the saddens especially with the dark colors on the illustrations.

Author Lisa Desimini uses the words for the illustrations.  They are beautiful and vibrant making it fun for the reader. 

I enjoyed this book.  My favorite poem is the shape of a snake and titled “Creep and Slither.” The poem is about a snake who slithered down to Pepper Pond for a midnight snack, ate a bull frog and felt mighty jumpy!  Third through fifth grade students can get an idea of arranging their words to form a concrete poem of their own.    

Review Excerpt:

- Mockingbird Award, 1999-2000; Nominee; Texas

- Prarie Pasque Award, 2001; Nominee; South Dakota

- Young Hoosier Book Award, 1999-2000; Nominee; Picture Books K-3; Indiana

“The interplay between words and pictures effectively conjures images form seasons, to sports, to the jungle.  From endpaper to doodled endpaper, this mix of clever language and visual delights makes a dandy treat for all ages.” –Publishers Weekly

“Lewis, who has long been a master of a variety of poetic forms, has created an inventive collection of concrete poems….Doodle Dandies captures the joy that wordplay can bring.  It deserves a place on every library shelf.” –School Library Journal

Connections:

Other books that use Concrete Poetry

-          Burg, Brad and Rebecca Gibbon.  OUTSIDE THE LINES. ISBN 0399234462

-          Janeczko, Paul B. A POKE IN THE I: A COLLECTION OF CONCRETE POEMS. ISBN 0763623768

 Check out this websites as another way to instill a love for poetry for children. 

-          Poetry for Children (  http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com/) is a valuable resource that has information on newly published poetry books and poetry activities. 

             

-          Giggle Poetry (http://www.gigglepoetry.com/) like J. Patrick Lewis also uses concrete poems.  Here you can find a wide variety of topic poems such as animal, family, school, and silly poems. 

 Spanish/English Poetry:

-          ¡Pío Peep!: Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes by: Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy ISBN 0688160190

-          FROM THE BELLYBUTTON OF THE MOON AND OTHER SUMMER POEMS/DEL OMBLIGO DE LA LUNA: Y OTROS POEMAS DE VERANO by Francisco X. Alarcon, ISBN 0892392010