A Dazzling Display of Dogs

Franco, Betsy. Ill. Michael Wertz. 2011. A Dazzling Display of Dogs. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle Press. ISBN: 978-1582463438

Plot Summary:

A Dazzling Display of Dogs is the newest book of concrete poems from Betsy Franco and is a follow up to her award winning collection A Curious Collection of Cats. In A Dazzling Display of Dogs, readers are treated to 32 poems of different breeds of dogs going through daily adventures, and the poems are written in a style that mimics whatever the dog is doing. The dogs do just about everything a reader can associate with dogs, from the endless in-and-out's of Gwen to Coco circling on the rug to find just the perfect spot to sleep.

Critical Analysis:

For a reader who has never reader who has not read anything by Betsy Franco and Michael Wertz before, the first page of poetry is an assault to the senses with the shapes and colors and jumble of words, but once the reader's senses adjust, they find themselves immersed in the world of dogs. This book of children's poetry should not be just directed to children but to anyone, no matter their age, that loves dogs or that loves shape poems, concrete poems, haikus, and cinquains or all of the above!

The writing style of the poems is reminiscent of EE Cummings' poetry in the way that the lines of many of Cummings' poetry formed the shape of the subject matter of that poem. In A Dazzling Display of Dogs, the lines of the poems form shapes or are in the shape of the subject of that poem. Mathilda wears a white plastic dog cone collar, presumably from surgery, and the lines of her poem fit inside the cone. Miss Olive sleeps with a teddy bear, and the poem about her bear is inside the cut out of a teddy bear. Jake, a Jack Russell Terrier, barks at everything, and the lines of his poem shoot out from around his open muzzle giving off the impression of loud barks. Jazzy jumps on his owner and the lines of his poem wave giving the reader the sensation of a dog jumping up and down and then on his owner.

The bright colors and writing style appeal to young and older readers alike, and since most of the poems are concrete poems, even the youngest readers would have no trouble reading and understanding the poetry in this collection. Also, the upbeat and sometimes silly rhymes and use of alliteration throughout the collection keeps the reader's attention and add to the humor of the poems.

The illustrations throughout the book are eye-catching and enhance the poems. According to the cover information, "The illustrations in this book were started in pencil and finished using monoprints and Adobe Photoshop," but to me, the illustrations look like the layouts of an intricately done scrapbook. In fact, my first thought upon opening the book was that I have scrapbooking paper that looks similar to the book's illustrations that I used throughout my son's baby book. The illustrations and page layouts draw the reader's eye to take in the entire page and not just the words of the poem. The poems and the illustrations work together to create an interconnected and beautiful work of art.

Review Excerpt:
"This follow-up to A Curious Collection of Cats (Tricycle, 2009) is dazzling indeed. Each of the 34 poems features a different animal, most of them engaged in true dog behavior. From farting in the car to wheezing and snoring while sleeping, these pups are funny and lovable even when they're being annoying. The verses and the book's design are beautifully matched. In "Emmett's Ode to His Tennis Ball," the text is enclosed in a circle held firmly in the dog's mouth. It begins, "Slobbery, sloppy, slimy, sphere—oh, tennis ball, I hold you dear…." Like the poems, the pictures are funny and dynamic. The pages are definitely full, yet careful use of color, typeface, and detail means they never look chaotic." Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL, From School Library Journal

"The creators of A Curious Collection of Cats (2009) offer another volume of concrete poems filled with playful action. Elementary students will pick up the wry wordplay, but younger children will have trouble deciphering the words amid the packed, digitally touched artwork. The poems do capture familiar scenes with pets, such as a dog playing with a tennis ball (“sloppery slippery slimy”) and the pitfalls of car trips with a pooch: “The very worst part / without a doubt / is when Cassandra / makes a fart.” Both silly and on-target, the slapstick rhymes are good choices for family sharing." --Hazel Rochman, From Booklist

Awards:

starred review in School Library Journal

Connections:

Another book of poems about dogs that children might enjoy is Little Dog Poems by Kristine O'Connell George. The book follows one dog, and the voice of the poems is his owner, a young girl.

While not all children own a dog, most have a pet or have friends with pets. After reading A Dazzling Display of Dogs, children could discuss (or older children could journal) experiences with their pets and how those experiences are similar to the ones detailed in A Dazzling Display of Dogs.

Children who really enjoy the style and illustrations of A Dazzling Display of Dogs would also enjoy reading A Curious Collection of Cats.