Book Review of DOODLE DANDIES

Bibliography:

Lewis, J. Patrick. 1998. Doodle dandies: Poems that take shape. Ill. by Lisa Desimini. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 068981075X


Summary:

A collection of nineteen concrete poems written by J. Patrick Lewis. These short poems cover a variety of topics such as animals, seasons, and sports. The poems’ shapes are accompanied by images that reinforce the theme of the poem.


Critical Analysis:

From the moment I opened Doodle Dandies, I was enchanted by the endpapers filled with doodles, the title page which reveals the author and illustrator information in fish forms, and the clever dedication page which uses dice to depict “to” and “for”. The rest of the book continues this enchantment with J. Patrick Lewis’ short, entertaining poems and Lisa Desimini’s wonderfully original illustrations that capture the eyes of the readers. It’s almost sad when the last poem is read, but you can always reread the book and enjoy it all over again.

Most of the short poems in this book contain regular rhythm patterns; however, there are a couple of free verse poems with no rhyming pattern, such as “Skyscraper”. This poem is told from the point of view of the skyscraper which can look down on the streets and “watch hundreds of ants scurrying like people on the sidewalks below and the yellow bugs racing recklessly along the city streets”. Lewis uses figurative language to describe the scene, but he reverses the image that most people would use. Instead of people scurrying like ants, Lewis cleverly flips the simile, creating a wonderful image that is further enhanced by the clever artwork. Desimini’s illustration includes silhouettes of people scurrying around the base of the “skyscraper”, thus helping to bring the entertaining poem to life. In addition to seeing the world from a different vantage point, readers are called upon to use their own imaginations along with the word arrangement, starting with a single “I” at the apex of the building and gradually growing to longer lines with bolder fonts at the building’s base, to create this magnificent skyscraper.

Although the poems included in Doodle Dandies are short, they are packed with imagery. For instance, “Synchronized Swim Team” contains only twenty words. These twenty words were selected so carefully that they vividly depict what the poet is trying to relay. The first part of the poem, “A swimming pool with wrinkled waves is like a quilt of blue”, provides the reader with image of a blue quilt, further reinforced by the illustration which depicts the words rolling across the top of a blue pool. The second part, “from under water eight precision needles poking through”, completes the image of a seamstress sewing with the legs of the swimmers poking through the water - what a perfect comparison of two very different activities. My only concern would be that a very young child would not be familiar with sewing or quilting, so the use of this comparison would be lost on them. However, anyone familiar with sewing would appreciate the poet’s choice of words and the artwork which complements this poem.

Doodle Dandies will entertain children for many years, because the short, rhythmic poems are about subjects children are interested in. In addition, the artist’s illustrations, as well as the varied arrangement of the text on each page, will capture the readers’ imaginations. Readers become active participants as they read the words snowing down in “Winter” or follow the outline of the giraffe to read “Giraffe”. This involvement will lead them to read and reread the poems. After reading Doodle Dandies, children just might view the world from a different perspective and want to create some concrete poems of their own.


Review Excerpts:

School Library Journal (June 1998) - “Lewis, who has long been a master of a variety of poetic forms, has created an inventive collection of concrete poems. In each selection, the essence of the subject is captured in the typeface used for the words, the shape in which the lines are arranged, and through Desimini's brilliant mixed-media collages.”

Publishers Weekly (June 1998) - “From endpaper to doodled endpaper, this mix of clever language and visual delights makes a dandy treat for all ages. Desimini's (Love Letters) mixed-media illustrations and Lewis's (A Hippopotamusn't) inventive poems converge in a single work stronger than either would be independent of the other.


Connections:

Read other concrete poems in the following books:

Burg, Brad. OUTSIDE THE LINES. ISBN 0399234462

Janeczko, Paul B. A POKE IN THE I: A COLLECTION OF CONCRETE POEMS. ISBN 0744589401

Roemer, Heidi. COME TO MY PARTY AND OTHER SHAPE POEMS.
ISBN 0805066209

Sidman, Joyce. MEOW RUFF: A STORY IN CONCRETE POETRY.
ISBN 06184489422

After reading the above books, discuss the similarities and differences between these books and Doodle Dandies. Discuss the artwork in the various books. Does the artwork add to the enjoyment of the poem or take away from it?

As a group, rewrite some proverbs in to concrete poems. Start with “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”. Discuss the key components of writing concrete poetry, such as the words, the visual image, and the layout of the poem.

Write a concrete poem about a topic of interest. Create a layout for the poem.

Have magnetic words and letters available in a learning center, so students can manipulate letters and words to create concrete poems on cookie sheets.