Daddy Is a Doodlebug [Hardcover]

Bruce Degen (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

As Daddy and his doodlebug snack on potoodle chips, padoodle their canoe, and count firefloodles, they savor the special joys of companionship by spending time doing the things they love, together.

Bruce Degen's inventive rhyme and lush paintings animate a miniature world full of bugs galore, in which buttons serve as the wheels of a teacup buggy and pencils hold up the swing set! This fanciful storyoodle begs to be read aloud over and over again.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Father and son bugs have a jolly time in this jaunty tale, in which Degen (Jamberry) again reveals his knack for creating and combining words in playful verse. "We doodle things together" explains the young narrator, first seen drawing pictures with his father. The cheerful son repeatedly draws a parallel between himself and his dad as he describes the adventures they share: "We walk our poodlebug down the lane,/ We ride the caboodle car on the train,/ We padoodle the canoe in the sun and rain./ That's what doodlebugs do./ 'Cause Daddy is a canoedlebug, and I'm a canoedlebug too." Degen works in a style reminiscent of vintage animated cartoons, achieved by creating the artwork in two stages: he executes a black pen-and-ink overlay and gouache color artwork on separate sheets. The star characters, as well as the other four-armed, anthropomorphic bug residents of Doodletown, are all the funnier for their useful extra limbs: a waitress in Mayfly's Diner, for instance, balances an entire meal on her quartet of appendages, and a fellow serenades his date on the banjo while holding a parasol for her in a canoe. Degen's noodle has come up with some fittingly quirky visuals for this splendoodle rhymoodle. Ages 3-6. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K-A charming picture book full of clever wordplay and distinctive illustrations. Written as if a young boy-er, bug-were describing favorite activities shared with his dad, Degen's rhyming text incorporates freshly coined words such as "potoodle chips," "firefloodles" and "fairytoodles." Like kids everywhere, the narrator enjoys visiting the zoo, sharing a meal, playing in the park, and listening to bedtime stories. The language is occasionally visually challenging ("canoedlebug," for example) but flows well with a little bit of practice. The attractive typeface, crisp and dark, complements the brightly colored gouache illustrations outlined in black ink. Visual humor abounds, often linked to verbal puns. The zoo, for example, features a caged dog tick, an ant lion, and a rhinoceros beetle. Various bugs perch on toadstools at the counter of "Mayfly's Diner" where a friendly looking green bug serves the narrator and his dad (noodle soup and apple strudel, of course). The layout features mostly double-page spreads depicting father-son outings. They contrast nicely with the cozy interiors and the little bug's imagined versions of storytime scenes, both shown in smaller single-page pictures. From the stylized buggy endpapers to the bouncy rhythm and delightful details, this is a carefully created ode to the loving connection between parent and child.
Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060284153
• ISBN-13: 978-0060284152
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #510,993 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bruce Degen has written and illustrated numerous award-winning books for children, among them Shirley's Wonderful Baby, Daddy Is a Doodlebug, and Jamberry. He has illustrated the highly acclaimed The Magic School Bus series by Joanna Cole, the ever-popular Jesse Bear books by Nancy White Carlstrom, and Jane Yolen's Commander Toad series. In addition to his career in children's books, he has also worked as a painter, print maker, and teacher, and has even painted scenery for the opera. Mr. Degen currently lives in Connecticut.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sincere Flattery!, May 17, 2001

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Daddy Is a Doodlebug (Hardcover)

For some fathers, it is easy for forget that young children will model themselves on their parents. One of the best ways to have that reminder be a pleasant spur to being a better role model is to read this book. In this tongue-twisting, extra-arm-and-leg sporting tribute to fathers, you'll get lots of laughter and bonding. I recommend this book as a gift from a child for father's day.

Doodlebugs have four arms and hands. As a result, they can do a lot more than you or I can.

Here are some examples of the wordplay:

You will hear about "soup-and-noodle bugs" and "apple strudel bugs." To do this, you have to go to "Mayfly's Diner."

At the zoo, they eat "potoodle chips" because Daddy is a "foodlebug."

They can walk their "poodlebug" which has 6 legs and paws.

Outdoors, they "padoodle" their canoe. Also, they go for "bugoodle rides" in the park.

Looking for fireflies after dark, they play "hoodle and seek bug."

You will also learn about "tagoodlebug," "fairytoodles," "Goldiebug," "Robin Hoodlebug," "storyoodlebug," and "bedboodles."

As you can see, the reading here will make Peter Piper picking his peck of pickled peppers seem like a snap.

A good way to enjoy this book is to make up your own language and pretend that you and your child are different kinds of creatures that you both find to be fun. You may soon have a fiction author emerging from your word play!

Take off from where you are to more humorous and happy realms together with your child!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely will bring a smile to your face, April 8, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Daddy Is a Doodlebug (Hardcover)

My husband spied this book at a local bookstore and read it to our 20 month old. We all got the giggles over the silly "oodle" filled story. This book is so much fun to read....and listen to. I would highly recommend it for any child lucky enough to spend time with a daddy that has a serious silly streak. I picked up a copy to give my husband as a birthday present from our kids. A great book for father-child bonding.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Didn't *Grab* Us - a review of "Daddy Is a Doodlebug", April 6, 2006

By 

Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Daddy Is a Doodlebug (Paperback)

Just to let you know that *everyone* is not on-board with `loving' this book. My children (boy and girl) and my husband and I give "Daddy Is a Doodlebug" only three stars, meaning that we found it cute but nothing special.

My children like looking at these 'buggy' drawings --the six-legged poodlebug and the carriage being drawn by a horse fly are cute-- but they don't care one wit about the text and story. (Go figure.)

Three Stars. Cute artwork. Darn hard read-aloud. My children were not captivated. Find an example of rhyme and text below so you can try to figure out if your children will like it or not.

We both eat potoodle chips
While walking through the zoo.
`Cause Daddy is foodlebug,
And I'm a foodlebug too.