Bubblegum Delicious

Sylvia Pantaleo is an assistant professor of education specializing in
children’s literature at Queen’s University. She is the co-author of
Learning with Literature in the Canadian Elementary Classroom.

Have you ever wondered how to make a goober-and-guck sandwich? Did you
know that a faithful jelly donut was waiting across the ocean? In
addition to these unusual topics, those who read Bubblegum Delicious
will learn about the King of Calabogie and dead men in Edmonton.

This classic collection of poetry by Dennis Lee includes goofy and
amusing rhymes about friends, going to the movies, stalking bugs,
parachuting pollywogs, and the playing of boogie-woogie by Dr. Bop, as
well as several gentle, lyrical, and charming poems about a spider’s
web, waves, friendship, and lonesomeness.

David McPhail has created a complementary world to extend each poem. A
young boy and his beloved dog are featured in every illustration and a
collection of psychedelic bugs appears in many of them. Readers will be
entertained by McPhail’s illustrative interpretation of each poem.

Scattered throughout the book, often in objects or along an
illustration, are quatrains composed in a smaller font. Authored by
“the bugs,” these verses are often counterpoints to the poem
featured on the page. “Bubblegum delicious, / Bubblegum delight, /
Bubblegum de-lovely in the / Middle of the night. / Wrap you up in
bubble wrap, / Wrap you up in gum, / Wrap you up in wonderful / ’Cause
you’re the special one!” Indeed Bubblegum Delicious is a special
one! Highly recommended.