The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles

Ben, Lindy, and Tom hadn't even wanted to go to the zoo that day, but when the Professor they met there posed the question, "If you're looking for something really unusual, have you ever considered a Whangdoodle?" their lives were changed forever. A Whangdoodle, if you're unfamiliar with the term, is a creature who has antlers, rather short legs, and grows bedroom slippers on his feet - new ones every year. He can also change colors to suit his mood.

The reason the Whangdoodle (and the Prock, Whiffle Bird, the High-Behind Splintercat, Swamp Gaboons, and so on) are names you've never heard before is that they live in a land you can only reach by using your imagination. Many years ago they lived on earth, but as people became more "sophisticated", they stopped believing in such creatures. As a result, all the magical beings started to disappear. In a great effort to preserve as many as he could, the Whangdoodle created this land and took with him all the magical beings that he could save.

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles is a very fun story about how Ben, Tom, Lindy, and the Professor reach Whangdoodleland and meet the Whangdoodle himself despite the efforts of the Prock, who wants to keep them away. Julie Andrews Edwards (yes, the same Julie Andrews from The Sound of Music) has created a great adventure, which is aimed at younger children but is a fun read for anyone.

She also manages to very carefully address larger issues, which creates an excellent opening to teaching younger children about genetics, imagination, belief, creation, and the art of listening - because what someone says might not be exactly what they mean! The question of morality in genetics is one that the children face, and this is what Ben says when his dad asks him about it: "'Well, whether we like it or not, I think genetics is here to stay, Dad, and it could be the answer to a lot of things.' He spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully. 'We will have a tremendous responsibility on our hands. If we're going to play God we must try to do it with honor and decency.'"

This book is such a delightful adventure that I don't think kids will even realize that they're learning! It's a great tool for parents who are starting to teach their kids about scientific responsibility, and it's also a pleasure to read!