Drew's art club takes a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago and something unexpected happens. The doodles in her notebook come alive and run away. Her doodles are imaginative and playful and have the best personalities. But they aren't super well-behaved and get into trouble.
It turns out Drew's mood as the artist has an effect on how the doodles grow and change. She sometimes struggles with her art and feels pressure to make her doodles into something they are not. The other students in the art club, the compassionate teacher advisor, and especially Drew's parents support her and want to help her resolve her out-of-control feelings. The inclusive atmosphere provides a welcoming and comforting environment to sort through stuff.
I love the characters in this story and their battles and triumphs. I appreciate the Chicago setting, and the neighborhood of Lincoln Square that serves as the backdrop. The author lives in Chicago and that feels familiar and authentic. Doodleville is an excellent follow-up to The Cardboard Kingdom and provides the reader with concepts and words for recognizing big emotions and promotes the magic of working together to solve problems.