Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Doodleday
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 8
Albert Whitman & Company, 2011 ISBN: 978-0807516836
Harvey’s mom is going to the store and she tells Harvey not to disturb his father. Harvey tells her that he will “just do some drawing,” which makes his mother completely freak out! Apparently it is “Doodleday” and “Nobody draws on Doodleday and that’’s that.”
After his mother leaves, Harvey takes out some pencils and…yes indeed…he draws a picture. He draws a picture of a big blue “Fat…and hairy” fly. To Harvey’s horror, his picture becomes a huge (as in as big as a small cow) fat and hairy fly doddle that flies around and creates havoc in the kitchen. What is Harvey to do?
Quickly Harvey draws a big purple hairy spider. Everyone knows that spiders eat flies. Right? Wrong. Harvey’s doodle spider is not interesting in the fly. Instead, it is interested in Harvey’s dad, and soon the poor man is trussed up and unable to move. Clearly, Harvey has a lot to learn about the dangers of Doddleday.
This wonderful picture book will delight young artists and make readers of all ages laugh out loud. With its expressive illustrations (complete with pencil doodles) and its unique story, this is a book that children will want to read again and again.
