Jelly Belly. Rev. ed.

Description

64 pages
$14.95
ISBN 1-55263-326-8
DDC jC811'.54

Author

Publisher

Year

2001

Contributor

Illustrations by Juan Wijngaard
Reviewed by Jennifer Falkner

Jennifer Falkner is an Ottawa-based freelance writer and bookseller.

Review

Dennis Lee has produced yet another book of fun and fanciful rhymes for
children. All the poems are fairly short, with the longest running about
40 lines. Some of the shorter poems, like “Five Fat Fleas,” are
clapping or skipping songs. Lee’s trademark fondness for local
Canadian names is especially evident in “Bundle-Buggy Boogie,” where
the poet revels in the challenge of using odd place names as a refrain:
“Athabasca, Abitibi, Bona Vista, Malaspina, Bella Bella, Bella Coola,
Batchawana, Baie Comeau!” The collection ends with poems that slow
down the energetic wordplay to a sleepy goodnight.

Each page features colorful and incredibly detailed illustrations.
Although Jelly Belly is probably aimed at children who can read on their
own, it can be read to younger children, who will appreciate the bright
rhythms and playful rhymes. Highly recommended.

Citation

Lee, Dennis., “Jelly Belly. Rev. ed.,” Canadian Book Review Annual Online, accessed November 26, 2024, https://cbra.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/23602.