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Monday, June 10, 2013

First Friday-Five Favorite Things: The Doodles of Sam Dibble

by Judy Press




This past Friday, June 7, Marcy and I posted our answers to Judy’s debut chapter book, The Doodles of Sam Dibble. Today, you get to read Judy’s favorite's. It was fun to see that some of mine and Marcy’s favorites were also Judy’s. 

1) What is your favorite line or paragraph from the novel as it relates to the main character's development and/or growth?

In the beginning of the book Sam’s teacher asks the third grade class to name a person they admire the most. The student’s answers range from their teacher, a dad who promises a fishing trip, and a pet parakeet who can roll over and play dead. Sam picks Demolition Dan, “The World’s Greatest Wrestler.” But when questioned about choosing someone he doesn’t personally know, Sam lies and tells the class that Demo Dan will be coming to his birthday party. At the end of the book Sam re-considers and picks Grandpa Dibble. “I like the stories Grandpa tells because they’re really funny. And when I get in trouble for doodling, Grandpa says it’s not such a bad thing ‘cause he got in trouble all the time. But the best thing about Grandpa is he is my family, and he’s my best friend.”

2) What is your favorite chapter ending or cliffhanger?

Sam’s classmates are waiting expectantly for Demo Dan to show up at his birthday party. With time running out, the house suddenly fills with smoke and the fire department is called. A firefighter rushes in and discovers the birthday cake Grandpa left in the oven has burnt. When firefighter Dan removes his mask, Sam realizes that it’s Demolition Dan.

3) Who is your favorite secondary character and why?

Grandpa Dibble has an offbeat sense of humor and is always there to support Sam, even when he gets into trouble. And when Demo Dan fails to show up at his birthday party, it’s grandpa who puts a bowl on his head, drapes a towel around his shoulders and passes himself off as the “Grampinator,” a WFG (World Famous Grandpa) who won his match against Demo Dan using his secret weapon, “The Grandpa Hug.” 

4) What is your favorite line or paragraph of description?

When Rachel, the most popular girl in his class, asks Sam about his birthday cake, he answers, “My grandpa is making my cake and it’s a surprise.” Then he goes on to say that one time his grandpa told him about a cake that he baked for a king in Egypt but when the King died they had to bury him inside the cake.

5) What is your favorite line of dialogue? 

As a former art teacher I encourage all kids to express themselves through various forms of art, including doodling. My favorite line in the book is when Sam says, “I think doodling is a lot of fun. It’s like taking your pen for a walk and going places you’ve never been before.”


Book two of the series, Double Trouble - The Doodles of Sam Dibble is also out and the third and fourth book in this series will be coming out soon!


Thanks Judy for sharing your favorites!


You can find Judy at:


You can find the illustrator Michael Kline at:




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