The Ice Cream Store by Dennis Lee

Lee, D. (1991). The ice cream store. New York, New York: Scholastic.

Summary:

The Ice Cream Story is a collection of children’s poems by Dennis Lee. The poems have many different themes, including self awareness about growing up to nature. They all use a similar rhyme scheme.

Advisory Information:

-Themes:

a. Diversity: This theme is mostly used to describe other children throughout the world. (“The Ice Cream Store,” “A Wonderful Trip in a Rocketship,” “Chica”)

b. Silliness: Some of the poems are so nonsensical that they include made up words. (“Follow That Whale,” “Bappy Earthday,” “Goof on the Roof”)

c. Manners: Etiquette is not a main theme of the collection, however “Mabel” does examine table manners.

d. Self-awareness: Some of the poems look at an individual’s ability to understand his or her place in the world in relation to themselves and others. (“The Secret Place,” “My Life in a Shoe,” “I Know It’s Time,” “A Home Like a Hiccup,” “Wild!,” “The Fib”)

e. Nature: The book also looks at animals and their environment. (“Cickadee, Fly,” “Chitter-Chatter-Chipmunk,” “The Water-Go-Round”)

f. Time & Life: “The Butterfly” is an interesting example of the fleetingness of life. While young children probably will not pick up on this message, the poem can still be taken as a poem about nature.

Age Recommendation

This poetry book is acceptable for all ages.

Won the Mr. Christie Book Award for Best Canadian Children's Book.

Other information:

Illustrations by David McPhail.

Reaction:

This book of poetry reminds me of Shel Silverstein’s poems. Although some poems have a serious message, most are just inventive and seem to emphasize the innocence and silliness that are a part of childhood. The illustrations are essential to the book; they are creative and help the reader understand some of the more outrageous poems. I especially like the poems “Digging a Hole to Australia” and “The Lottery Dream of Miss Patricia Pig.”