[review] Clara’s Kooky Compendium of Thimblethoughts and Wonderfuzz by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong

~ jama

Well, well, well . . . ready for some fun?

Just when you think children’s poetry anthologies can sometimes be a tad predictable, up pops a new one that almost defies description. Is it a junk journal? a graphic novel? a writer’s notebook? a playground for list makers and doodlers? It’s actually all of the above, in addition to being an engaging collection of 150+ lighthearted poems by 100+ uber cool contemporary poets!

In Clara’s Kooky Compendium of Thimblethoughts and Wonderfuzz by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong, illustrated by Frank Ramspott (Pomelo Books, 2024), readers ages 8-14 are invited to spend a week with spunky Clara, a fourth grader who’s making a compendium for Mrs. Booker’s class.

The assignment is to copy or cut-and-tape poems, collect facts and trivia connected to the poems (thimblethoughts), jot down questions (wonderfuzz), add drawings or illustrations, and simply record whatever one deems noteworthy. There are no limits to this creative exercise, with Mrs. Booker emphasizing, “Put in ANYTHING you want.”

THIMBLETHOUGHT: Scientists say that people who doodle can remember 29% more than people who don’t doodle.

So we meet Clara (animal lover, cookie baker, popsicle eater and skateboard, soccer, pickleball, basketball and video games enthusiast), as well as her family, friends, neighbors, and classmates at school and at play.

Poems and all their related tidbits are largely framed throughout the book by a series of writing exercises Mrs. Booker has assigned the class — everything from describing friends and pets, to considering math, science, language arts, and social studies takeaways, to pondering dream jobs.

Kids will be happy to see many pages devoted to wild animals, both weird and wonderful, and the visually appealing scrapbook-like format will inspire them to imagine, explore, rethink, reflect, dig deeper, and have a ball writing their own poems.

WONDERFUZZ: When we write, do our words become brain tattoos?

Clara’s enthusiasm is infectious as she shares all the funny, sometimes silly, irresistibly wacky poems (a chewy smorgasbord of delightful poetic forms and devices). Robots? Pirates? Chickens? Artists? Slumber Parties? Check! Clara herself writes many poems, and even her toes get in on the action. Why not? Anything goes!

Since I’m a collector at heart, I especially enjoyed all the lists in the book: Kinds of Shoes, Names that Start with J, Things I Wish Robots Could Do, Most Popular Candy in the U.S., Things People Are Afraid Of. Loved the Word Bank (lists of foreign, unusual, even pet words), as well as the friendly advice on “How to Prevent Smelly Feet” (Clara covers all the bases). 😀

The more Wonderfuzzes I read, the more I wondered and wondered.

Do wild animals celebrate birthdays? How often does lightning hit a person? Is it true that Queen Elizabeth II ate bananas with a knife and fork? Why do fuzzy things make us feel safe? Do people’s eyeballs stay the same size their whole lives?

And the more Thimblethoughts I read, the more I wanted to research and learn something new. I love this expansive approach, where each and every thing, no matter how small, is worthy of examination. A compendium is the ultimate non-judgmental idea generator for writers and poets!

Speaking of poets, it was great to see so many familiar names on the roster including Poetry Friday friends Marcie Flinchum Atkins, Robyn Hood Black, Patricia J. Franz, Irene Latham, Carmela A. Martino, Carol Varsalona, and April Halprin Wayland. Janet Wong’s poems are also included (she wrote Clara’s and Mrs. Booker’s, too).

Frank Ramspott’s ebullient drawings add a lot of humor, energy and quirky details to each page. His use of colorful ‘washi tape’ to “paste” the poems into place adds a nice personal, homemade touch (we can just imagine Clara herself doing this).

But what about food, you ask? Of course cookie-loving Clara serves up good portions of vittle verses in her compendium, ranging from waffles and pasta to candy and cupcakes. *licks lips*

Since you’re probably starving by now, let’s do lunch!! Special thanks to Charles Waters, Allan Wolf and Helen Kemp Zax for permission to share their tasty entrées, all from the Exercise #10: Favorite Food pages. Bon Appétit!

*

CLARA'S GOT THE LUNCHIE MUNCHIES
by Charles Waters

Lunchie Munchie
yum, yum, yum.
I gobble, gobble
every crumb.

Tofu turkey,
vegan cheese,
lettuce, olives,
onions, peas.

Carrots, celery,
hummus dip,
my favorite cookie -- 
chocolate chip!

I gobble gobble
every crumb.
Lunchie Munchie
yum, yum, yum.

~ Copyright © 2024 Charles Waters.

WONDERFUZZ: Can you be vegan (eat nothing from animals, not even milk or eggs or honey) and still grow tall and strong?

*

POINTER
by Helen Kemp Zax

If you give your mouse a cookie
or share crumblings of that ilk --
your keyboard will be grateful
if you skip the glass of milk.

~ Copyright © 2024 Helen Kemp Zax.

THIMBLETHOUGHT: Research shows that students who eat breakfast or lunch at school get more whole grains, milk, fruits, and vegetables and have a healthier diet at school.

*

LUNCHROOM VIRTUOSOS
by Allan Wolf

Vickie is a virtuoso
of the pickle flute.
She puckers on her piccolo (pickle-o)
with trills and tweets and toots.

Victor is a virtuoso
of the juice-box drum.
Carrot-sticking steady tempo,
loudly popping gum.

Val's a virtuoso of
the broccoli sitar.
And I'm a virtuoso
of the ham-and-cheese guitar.

We're brilliant virtuosos,
but our teacher says we're rude.
It seems what we call "music,"
she calls, "Playing with your food."

~ Copyright © 2024 Allan Wolff.

THIMBLETHOUGHT: A flute made from a vulture’s bones is the world’s oldest musical instrument.

*

Alphabet Soup Juice Box Band (with pickle flute accompaniment).

Talk about yum, yum, yum! All three poems are such fun to read aloud with their lively rhythms and playful rhymes. I like imagining Charles, Allan and Helen sitting together in the lunchroom back in the day sharing and/or swapping treats. Who do you think was the most studious or the most mischievous? Who would be most likely to start a food fight? I like thinking how their poems reveal a bit about what they were like as kids. 😀

Speaking of mischievous, how about a round of applause for anthologists extraordinaire Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong? Sometimes I think they should be arrested for having too much fun.

👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

Though they’ve already published many outstanding poetry anthologies, they keep outdoing themselves with each new offering. This cleverly conceived, innovative book has such wide appeal — for aspiring writers, book nerds, cartoon/art aficionados, trivia buffs, journal-keepers, word collectors, story lovers, the naturally curious — and one can choose to read from beginning to end, or simply dive right in at any page.

Endmatter includes Awesome Activities for Ravenous Writers and a complete list of the 20 Writing Exercises featured in the book.

The Childen’s Book Council deemed Clara’s Kooky Compendium of Thimblethoughts and Wonderfuzz a “Hot Off the Press” book for October, and a portion of the profits from this book will be donated to charities that bring joy to children in hospitals.

Congratulations on another masterwork, Sylvia and Janet. You are by far the classiest and kookiest compendium compilers in the cosmos!

*

CLARA’S KOOKY COMPENDIUM OF THIMBLETHOUGHTS AND WONDERFUZZ
written and edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong
illustrated by Frank Ramspott
published by Pomelo Books, October 2024
Poetry Anthology for ages 8-14, 137 pp.

Amazon
QEP Books
Bookshop

♥️ Check out the free downloadable Teacher’s Guide here.

*

Lovely and talented Karen Edmisten is hosting the Roundup this week. Zip on over to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being shared around the blogosphere. Have a nice weekend!

*Interior spreads text copyright © 2024 Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong, illustrations © 2024 Frank Ramspott, published by Pomelo Books. All rights reserved.

**Copyright © 2024 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

42 thoughts on “[review] Clara’s Kooky Compendium of Thimblethoughts and Wonderfuzz by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong”

  1. I love to make lists as well. Words are my superpower, drawing not so much. What a great book. I think I will put in on hold at the library. By the way, I just picked up my copy of Lisa H Detlefsen’s Still There Was Bread at the library. I am going to enjoy it this weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yay!! I know you’ll enjoy Lisl’s book and hopefully your library has this poetry anthology as well. It’ll definitely brighten your day. 🙂

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  2. Pingback: chronological book review archive (2008-2024) | Jama's Alphabet Soup

  4. Jama, what an enticing review! Now I am even more inspired to grab a copy of that wonderful wonderfuzz. Your lunchbox fife and drum made me smile. You are so creative!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for the kind words and enthusiasm, Tracey. Yes, you must grab a copy and indulge in the wonderfuzz — you’ll find yourself generating lots of your own. 🙂

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    1. The title definitely gets your attention and makes you want to read the book. Such a clever anthology — something for everyone in it.

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  7. I’m always on the lookout for new poetry collections for kids and there have been SO FEW in recent years that really shine — I can’t wait to get my hands on this kooky gem!

    Also, it does my heart good to see bears playing juice box drums.

    And to be uplifted by Jama’s blog any day of the week.

    Congrats, Sylvia and Janet and all the contributors!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. This one is definitely unique; I like how it redefines “children’s poetry anthology” in fun ways. The way supplementary material is incorporated is brilliant. And I did like learning about so many new-to-me poets.

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    1. The Juice Box Band loved playing for you — for each song they play, they drink a box. This may turn out to be a short-lived vocation . . . 😀

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  9. I am so looking forward to reading this, but imagine teachers especially will love it and use it and return to it again and again. Yes, more poetry for kids in the classroom. Thanks for a post full to the brim of smiles, Jama!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I like how wonderfuzz generates more wonderfuzz. And I do like picking up bits of trivia whenever possible, so those thimblethoughts were just delightful too.

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  14. Thank you SO much for such a beautiful, in-depth review! Your blog posts are always so rich and thoughtful and we are so grateful that you like CLARA’S KOOKY COMPENDIUM as much as we do. I especially loved your line: “A compendium is the ultimate non-judgmental idea generator for writers and poets!” YES! We hope many young people will feel empowered to read, write, draw, think, research, and WONDER!

    PLUS: thanks to all those who commented with such kind words! Much appreciated!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks to YOU and Janet for making this book! I was serious about how you two should be arrested. 😀 Looks like you had too much fun, but I know a lot of thought, planning, and work went into creating this anthology, not to mention rounding up 100 contributors. You two are amazing!!

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      1. YOU are the amazing one, Jama. Somehow you always manage to capture the ESSENCE of a book and turn it into a delectable morsel of a post. PURE genius!!! 🙏🙏🙏

        Liked by 1 person

      2. You are too kind, Janet. Remember, I wouldn’t be able to capture anything if I didn’t have a good book as inspiration to begin with. 🙂

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  15. If the book is half as fun as this post I’m going to need a few more copies! Thanks for the review — I can’t wait for kids to get their hands on this.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Jama, you outdid yourself with this marvelous review. I read this over several times as a model for my own review of the book. Last night, I finally had a chance to read the beginning of the book with my 7-year-old grandgirl. She loves Clara and was delighted to learn another new word, compendium. We are working on an interesting review from a child. I send you many thanks for your inventiveness when writing this review.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the review, Carol! Excited to hear you’re sharing the book with your granddaughter, and I can’t wait to read your review!

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  20. Jama, thank you for the great review! I’m looking forward to reading all of the fun poems, and I love the thimblethoughts, wonderfuzz, and drawings. I just ordered my copy of the book. Janet and Sylvia are so much fun. I got such a kick out of your adorable band members and their instruments. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yay, glad you ordered the book! I know you’ll enjoy it, Gail. The Juice Box Band thanks you (they’re always thirsty, though).

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  21. Fantastic review, Jama, and I’m so glad the Bears honored “the classiest and kookiest compendium compilers in the cosmos” with their special certificate of recognition! Now, off to wonder and think about what would go on YOUR certificate… it would have to be a very big piece of paper. xoxo

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