Every now and then, a reviewer comes across a work that is so wonderful that the reviewer feels that any words used to describe it will be inadequate. Such was the feeling that I had as I was reading The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles. I have been working on this review for three weeks. Every time I think I’m finished, I realize that I haven’t captured the true essence of the book. The magic and wonder just aren’t there. In the meantime, I’ve released quite a few reviews on other topics that were much easier to discuss. But this one… I still haven’t come up with the right words. But I realize that if anyone is ever going to know about this terrific book, I’ll have to publish something, even if it is inadequate.

I consider this book one of my best reading experiments. I was searching my favorite on-line bookstore for something to read after my daughter and I finished reading the Harry Potter series. I saw the title and thought it was extremely funny. Without even looking at the description of the book, I ordered it. I received a book that looks very different from the book shown in the product information that Epinions has on file for this book. I soon found out that the book was first published in 1974 and re-released in 1989. The version that I purchased is the 25th anniversary version, which contains a preface from the author that is dated 1999.

For anyone who is curious, a whangdoodle is “a humorous, mythical creature of fanciful and undefined nature.” The author claims that the definition can be found in Webster’s Dictionary. I have looked in 3 different dictionaries (including Webster’s), but I still can’t find the word. Still, if there ever was a word that applied to a book, “whangdoodle” is a good word for this one.

This is the story of another group of children with the last name of Potter (no relation to Harry). Ben is the oldest of the children. As such, he feels a constant need to turn away from fantasy and to be the strongest and the most brave. Tom is the middle child. He feels torn between the realities of growing up and the desire to be young and carefree. He deals with this by antagonizing his siblings, even though he dearly loves them both. Lindy is the youngest. She’s bright and has a wonderful imagination. However, she feels compelled to be just as courageous as her brothers.

During a visit to the zoo one afternoon, the three children meet an extraordinary man wearing funny clothes. The zoo animals, the odd man tells them, are nice. But for the greatest animal ever, they should consider a whangdoodle. All the children are puzzled and just dismiss the man as an eccentric. But later, they see him again and find out that he is actually a Nobel prize-winning geneticist named Professor Samuel Savant. The Professor tells them more about the mystical whangdoodle. Sadly, as with many of the magical creatures of the world, all but one of the whangdoodles have disappeared from the earth. Only the most brave, most imaginative of people ever has a chance of seeing the last of the whangdoodles. He then enlists the children’s help in his goal of actually meeting the last of the whangdoodles who lives in a very special place called Whangdoodleland.

Thus begins one of the most amazing adventures that I have ever had the privilege of reading. Along the way to see the Whangdoodle, the children meet a variety of other creatures including the Whiffle Bird, the Prock, and the High-Behind Splintercat. They also learn how to look at the world, others, and themselves differently. And in doing so, they learn that, with a little courage and lots of imagination, they can surmount even the largest of obstacles.

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles was written by Julie Andrews Edwards. Many people know her from her work in movies such as “Mary Poppins”, “Victor/Victoria” and “The Sound of Music” but have no idea that she is also an author. Having read this book, I now feel like her singing and acting are her lesser talents. Ms. Andrews has accomplished a remarkable task by creating a world entirely unlike this one. While she has provided sufficient descriptions for even the most unimaginative child to envision the characters and the world of Whangdoodleland, she has also allowed enough room for the child to add details of his own.

The story contains a number of really good life lessons. These lessons are abundantly obvious but not necessarily things that a child (or even a parent, in my case) would discuss. For some reason, these lessons never come across as “preachy”. In ways it felt like I was learning these lessons along with the Potter children. As I read this book with my daughter, we would often stop and discuss some of these lessons. In doing so, we ended up seeing each other differently.

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles is intended for children between the ages of 9 to 12. At around 277 pages, it may be a bit much for younger readers, even though the vocabulary is easy enough. However, it makes an even better read-aloud book. The book contains enough details about the characters that the reader can make up some really great voices for the Prock, the Whangdoodle, Professor Savant, and others.

One thng about this book that may hinder younger readers is that the book contains no illustrations. According to the preface, this is intentional. The point of the book, after all, is to encourage children to use their imaginations. Providing pictures would have taken away an opportunity to do so. I must admit that I have to agree with this, because my daughter drew a picture of the Whangdoodle that is quite impressive. Imagine a green polka-dotted moose with long hair!

Now go buy the book!



Recommended: Yes