What do you think?
Rate this book
Fuzzy Doodle
The metamorphosis of a caterpillar, the metamorphosis of a creative idea, the magic of creativity are all explored in this picture book. Language and artwork combine harmoniously to provide a rich experience for young readers
A White Ravens Selection 2017.
A White Ravens Selection 2017.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2016
About the author
Melinda Szymanik
20 books48 followersI write for young adults, children of all ages and have published novels, picture books and have short stories in anthologies and educational publications. My sophisticated picture book 'Fuzzy Doodle' (Scholastic, 2016), was a 2017 Storylines Notable book, finalist in the 2017 NZ Children's and Young Adults Book Awards and a 2017 White Raven selection. My historical mid grade children's novel, 'A Winter's Day in 1939' (Scholastic) was a 2014 Storylines Notable book and won Librarian's Choice at the 2014 LIANZA Awards. My 2008 picture book The Were-Nana was voted Children's Choice at the 2009 NZ Post Children's Book Awards.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 5, 2019
This one was so much fun - reminded me a little of the Hungry Caterpillar but even cuter, and the illustrations are lovely.
November 25, 2016
A visual transformation that improves with each page turn, much like the content it discusses literally and metaphorically.
August 25, 2017
This is a poetical story, in concept, language, and illustration. It is about a little scribble that transforms itself into something vastly different. The doodle's journey was a pleasure to imbibe.
In short, I love this story and recommend it to readers and gift givers alike.
Age group: 0-8 years (but really anyone)
In short, I love this story and recommend it to readers and gift givers alike.
Age group: 0-8 years (but really anyone)
January 10, 2018
This book was so much fun!
Just a scribble on the page, Fuzzy eats his way through ink and words and grows and grows until he is transformed into something wonderful! A delightful book by New Zealand author Melinda Szymanik with amazing illustrations by Donovan Bixley. Highly recommend.
Just a scribble on the page, Fuzzy eats his way through ink and words and grows and grows until he is transformed into something wonderful! A delightful book by New Zealand author Melinda Szymanik with amazing illustrations by Donovan Bixley. Highly recommend.
August 29, 2017
A book for word and book lovers! Clever and creative.
September 10, 2017
"Fuzzy started as a scribble..."
Clever and creative with original design concepts.
Clever and creative with original design concepts.
May 31, 2018
Wonderful illustrations and quite a nice idea, but I did not like the rhyming pattern at all.
September 9, 2018
Two words...love it!
Innovative, creative, unique. Words and illustrations combine to create a story that is so right on every level.
Innovative, creative, unique. Words and illustrations combine to create a story that is so right on every level.
October 20, 2018
It a lovely book. I loved it!
June 22, 2020
Beautiful book.
September 15, 2016
I was first captivated by the cover of this book—the blending watercolour, the shiny, tactile branch made from various cursive words, the sketched fuzzy thing that looks right at you with a smile. I was curious. What exactly is a Fuzzy Doodle? The kids had a few guesses… A fuzzy alien? A hairy caterpillar? The Wonderful Fluffy Squishy Itty Bitty’s best friend?
Fuzzy Doodle "started as a scribble, just a scrawly little doodle, a smudge sort of ‘something’ at the bottom of the page.” This scribble comes to life. He eats splotches of ink, nibbles on words, chomps on paragraphs, devours all the colours of the rainbow. Fuzzy grows, until one day he curls himself inside a chrysalis. I’m pretty sure you can guess what happens next.
Children are familiar with and delighted by the metamorphosis of a caterpillar. The comparison of this with the birth and growth of an idea in Fuzzy Doodle, by Melinda Syzmanik and Donovan Bixley, is inspired. An idea needs sustenance, its development takes time, it has the ability to sprout wings and fly. Szymanik’s text connects with the reader by asking questions and has touches of light humour. Bixley’s illustrations are something special. Charcoal and ink. Scribbles juxtaposed with intricate florals. Grey sketches with a glossy black and brilliant colours brought together to form a perfect synthesis.
Fuzzy Doodle "started as a scribble, just a scrawly little doodle, a smudge sort of ‘something’ at the bottom of the page.” This scribble comes to life. He eats splotches of ink, nibbles on words, chomps on paragraphs, devours all the colours of the rainbow. Fuzzy grows, until one day he curls himself inside a chrysalis. I’m pretty sure you can guess what happens next.
Children are familiar with and delighted by the metamorphosis of a caterpillar. The comparison of this with the birth and growth of an idea in Fuzzy Doodle, by Melinda Syzmanik and Donovan Bixley, is inspired. An idea needs sustenance, its development takes time, it has the ability to sprout wings and fly. Szymanik’s text connects with the reader by asking questions and has touches of light humour. Bixley’s illustrations are something special. Charcoal and ink. Scribbles juxtaposed with intricate florals. Grey sketches with a glossy black and brilliant colours brought together to form a perfect synthesis.
December 28, 2016
Fuzzy started as a scribble,
just a scrawly little doodle,
a smudgy sort of 'something'
at the bottom of the page.
From this simple beginning, aided and abetted by just such a smudgy black doodle on the grey double spread of high quality paper, Fuzzy comes to life. He eats and grows, from words to paragraphs to Once Upon a Time stories. As he grows, the illustrations become more complex, colour is introduced, and quickly becomes vivid:
All the colours of the rainbow,
in their tones and hues so varied,
they were just what Fuzzy needed
to enable him to grow … and grow
AND GROW
The text will delight the listener and reader, with the illustrations taking the words to a higher level of understanding. From simple pen doodling to Japanese-type simplicity of colour use, Donovan Bixley has excelled himself.
Fuzzy Doodle could be used by parents and teachers to expand a child's imaginative use of both words and colour. The age recommendation (a read-aloud book for children from 3-7) is only a guide. This book could be used throughout primary school.
Reviewed by Chris Wright (Bookrapt)
just a scrawly little doodle,
a smudgy sort of 'something'
at the bottom of the page.
From this simple beginning, aided and abetted by just such a smudgy black doodle on the grey double spread of high quality paper, Fuzzy comes to life. He eats and grows, from words to paragraphs to Once Upon a Time stories. As he grows, the illustrations become more complex, colour is introduced, and quickly becomes vivid:
All the colours of the rainbow,
in their tones and hues so varied,
they were just what Fuzzy needed
to enable him to grow … and grow
AND GROW
The text will delight the listener and reader, with the illustrations taking the words to a higher level of understanding. From simple pen doodling to Japanese-type simplicity of colour use, Donovan Bixley has excelled himself.
Fuzzy Doodle could be used by parents and teachers to expand a child's imaginative use of both words and colour. The age recommendation (a read-aloud book for children from 3-7) is only a guide. This book could be used throughout primary school.
Reviewed by Chris Wright (Bookrapt)
June 25, 2016
What a fabulous book! The illustrations are magical, with large swathes of inkness that are just so pleasant to touch. And the writing is lyrical and lovely. Altogether a magical and fantastic story that is suitable for all ages.
July 1, 2016
Wonderful :)
August 25, 2017
4.5
It's a book eating caterpillar, it's a butterfly-book, it's absolutely adorable.
and the illustrations (insert heart-eye emoji here) <3
really wonderful picture book from New Zealand.
It's a book eating caterpillar, it's a butterfly-book, it's absolutely adorable.
and the illustrations (insert heart-eye emoji here) <3
really wonderful picture book from New Zealand.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews