LOONERICKS: Illustrated by YOU!

Greetings! I started making up limericks to entertain my grandchildren. On my walks in the park, more and more of them came to me. Then I got the idea to make this book. Let me explain.

A limerick is a five-verse poem with a certain meter (rhythm) and form. The first two verses rhyme, as do the third and fourth verses. The fifth verse rhymes with the first verse.

Most limericks describe a silly or funny scene and the fifth verse serves as the “punch line” of the mini-drama.

I realized that most limericks seem to call for a visual representation by two cartoons. The first cartoon sets the scene created by the first four verses and a second cartoon is suggested by the fifth verse.

That’s when my idea for LOONERICKS was born! Here is how this book works:

I supply the first four verses on one page, then it will be your turn to illustrate those verses with a cartoon or painting on the opposite page. When I share my “punch line” on the following page, it will be your turn again to create a second cartoon or painting on the opposite page to illustrate the fifth verse.

I think you will catch on.

When you finish, you will have 20 LOONERICK cartoons to show your friends!

Use your artistic skills and have fun!

—Gary Drehmel AKA “Grandpa D.”