Bibliography
Plot
Summary
A book of shape poems, DOODLE DANDIES includes a variety of fun and funny poems with beautiful and vivid
illustrations. In the first poem, “First Burst of Spring,” the words crawl
along the page and burst forth to represent the first bud of spring. In the
cute poem, “Dachshund” the words of the poem form the sweet shape of “a dog
like a sausage.” In “Mirror,” the words of the poem are arranged on one page
and reflected on the adjacent page as if reflected in a mirror. The poems
presented in DOODLE DANDIES are varied and cover a range of emotions and
subjects from nature to sports.
Critical Analysis
J. Patrick Lewis uses simple yet
descriptive words that fit the subject of each poem. The arrangement of the
words and illustrations support the meaning behind the words and delight the
eye of the reader. Each poem has a unique rhythm and arrangement that conveys
the meaning and emotion. Some poems use rhyme while others do not, but when
rhyme is used it is effective and matches the tone and voice for the poem. A
large part of the imagery involves the shape of the poem. The shape of each
poem provides significance, which could be lost if arranged in more traditional
lines and verses.
Each poem delivers a different emotion from playful to silly
and hopeful to secretive. Emotion is captured naturally and successfully. The variety of poems
included in this book are interesting and would appeal to wide audience of all
ages. The only thing each poem seems to have in common is the fact that they
are all shape poems and all attractively illustrated. Lisa Desimini’s mixed
media illustrations, from the doodles on endpapers to the amusing details on
the inner pages, magnify the experience of the reader. Many teachers would find
this book useful when teaching and motivating students to write their own shape
poetry.
Review Excerpt(s)
From Publisher’s Weekly
"The
interplay between words and pictures effectively conjures images from 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."
From School Library Journal
“Every page of
this book is well designed, creating words and images that work together in
harmony.”
From Booklist
“The history
of poems shaped on the page goes back at least to the seventeenth-century poet
George Herbert, and certainly Lewis Carroll used it well in Alice.
Desimini and Lewis take that tradition to rowdy new heights.”
Book
Connections
Other books
written by J. Patrick Lewis:
POEM-MOBILES,
ISBN 0375866906.
PLEASE BURY ME
IN THE LIBRARY, ISBN 0152163875.
COUNTDOWN TO
SUMMER: A POEM FOR EVERY DAY OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, ISBN 0316020893.
Other books
illustrated by Lisa Desimini:
MY
BEAUTIFUL CHILD, ISBN 0439738695.
MY HOUSE,
ISBN 0805055169.
MOON CHILD,
ISBN 1562824635.
Other books
of shape poems:
Graham, Joan Bransfield. SPLISH SPLASH, ISBN 0618111239.
Janeczko,
Paul B. A POKE IN THE I: A COLLECTION OF CONCRETE POEMS, ISBN 0763623768.
Roemer, Heidi. COME TO MY PARTY AND OTHER SHAPE POEMS, ISBN 0805066209.
Activities
for DOODLE DANDIES:
- As a group, write a shape poem. Decide together the shapes and words for the poem.
- As a group, discuss the different shapes used and how making the words the outline of the shape is different than making the words create the actual shape, such as in the poems, “Giraffe” and “Dainty Lady."
- Assign each student a shape and have them think of a poem that fits the shape. Present and display the poems.
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