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My aunt gave me this book when I was a child and I immediately grew to love it. I read it over and over again until I got older and started reading "grown up" books. But when the inspiration struck me to try writing some young reader's novels of my own, I began to gravitate towards those books I'd loved as a child, and I've slowly begun to rediscover them.
Julie Andrews-Edwards may be famous as an actress, but she's a wonderful author as well. This book focuses on three children who, one Halloween night, fall in with a slightly eccentric professor who believes in another world ruled by a kind but reclusive creature called a Whangdoodle. This book stretches the limits of imagination with fantastic creatures, incredible settings and marvelous adventures. I loved this book when I was a boy. Now I love it all over again.
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Action, intrigue, suspense, a cat who lives in a giant knot of yarn and another that can change colors to...plaid. I was given this book as a gift from my grandmother when it first came out, and it remains one of my prized possessions.
This is a delightful story about growing up, trusting, and most importantly, learning to rely on one's imagination and wits. While there are some serious themes to the book, and some suspenseful moments, this really is a romp; a book that children of almost all ages can enjoy - and many adults, too, I imagine.
Julie Andrews Edwards proves she can do a lot more than sing. If you are a fan of children's literature, or if you have a child, this is a must read. There are a lot of books I remember reading as a child, but this one stands out along with the Chronicles of Narnia and The Hobbit as one of the absolute best.
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Ben (13), Tom (10), and Lindy (7) Potter, have never heard of an animal known as the Whangdoodle, even though they spend as much time at the zoo as possible. But then they meet the magical Professor Savant. Professor Savant tells them all about the magical creature known as the Whangdoodle, who have disappeared due to the fact that people just don't believe in them anymore. So when the good Professor invites the three siblings on a quest to find the last of the really great Whangdoodles, they can't resist, and quickly agree. However, the way to Whangdoodleland is more complicated than any of the children could have imagined. For the three of them must learn to see things in a completely different way, in which they let their imaginations take over, as opposed to thinking logically. When at last the siblings are ready to embark on their journey, they are treated to a wonderful land filled with wondrous creatures, but still no Whangdoodle. And since the slimy Prime Minister of Whangdoodleland, known as the Prock is determined to stop the four explorers in anyway that he possibly can, they may never meet up with the enchanting Whangdoodle. Unless, of course, they continue to believe.
Julie Andrews Edwards proves once again that she is a multi-talented woman, who can not only sing and dance, but can write wondrous stories that capture the imaginations of both children and adults alike. THE LAST OF THE REALLY GREAT WHANGDOODLES is filled with vivid descriptions, that bring each written word to life, and the characters prove to be extremely two-dimensional, showing different sides of their personalities throughout the novel. Altogether this book is a wonderful fantasy that should be listed as a classic right up there next to C.S. Lewis' NARNIA series, and J.R.R. Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. A must-have.
Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper
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Even though I'm still in the middle of the book I just had to inform Mrs Julie Andrews of the fascinating book she wrote.My friend let me borrow the book after she read it and accomplimented about and I started reading write away I finished till half of the book in 2 days ,because I loved her movies so I knew I'd enjoy her books.To say the truth I love the book and I would reccommend it to anyone I know.
Nureen Khadr,California,10
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There is so much creative power at work in this story, it's wonderful. I'd give it a ten (on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest) for the imagination alone involved in creating all the creatures in the story. Read it yourself and, if you don't like the plot, at least read it for the fascinating descriptions of all the creatures in it. Oh to have an imagination like this author! It was great. I found myself smiling and giggling like a little girl while I was reading it. It's a great conversation piece too - how many discussions are about "whangdoodles" anyway? :o) Great read!
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