Customer Reviews

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles

5 star:		(251)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I had a teacher who read this book to our class when I was in fourth grade. I am now 30, and the book is still one of the most creative, entertaining books I have ever read. Lindy, Tom, Ben and the professor have the most wonderful adventures and meet up with the most incredible creatures. Julie Andrews Edwards has a gift for making the reader feel that she (or he) is actually along on the adventure. Her writing style is so descriptive, it's almost as if you can actually see, smell and taste all of the fantastic things in the book. This book truly recognizes the importance of exercising a child's imagination. I really look forward to reading it to my children someday.

...you'll like this look into the collective imagination of two brothers, their sister, and an eccentric professor. Journey with them as the go in search of a magnificent creature that can exist only if someone believes in it.

I first discovered this book when I was in elementary school, around the time it was written, and I fell in love with it. Fast forward about 10 years to a summer spent as a camp counselor when I read it to a cabin full of 9-11 year old girls who couldn't wait for me to read the next chapter each night. Fast foward another 15 years to a mother purchasing a Harry Potter book from Amazon. Lo and behold the title comes up again in the "people who bought this book also purchased..." line. What a treat to rediscover what I consider a classic.

If you like the Harry Potter books or the Oz books or any book that takes the you to imaginary places with imaginary creatures and imaginary landscapes then you'll love it.

I'm in the 6th grade and I currently read The Last of The Really Great Whangdoodles- I loved the book! The book is about 3 young kids,Ben, Tom, and Lindy Potter, who, with the help of their friend, Professor Savant, search out for the Whangdoodle.The Whangdoodle looks a bit like a moose or horse, it grows a new pair of slippers on it's feet each year. The Whangdoodle isn't the only strange creature in Whangdoodleland there's also the adorable Whiffle Bird, the mean and nasty Swamp Gaboons, the awful "oily" Prock, the playful High-Behind Splintercat, and many more. I'd keep going but that would defeat the purpose of reading the book, and you deffinetly wouldn't want to miss this book!I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I hope by writing this review I persaude others to read it too! P.S. Be sure to smell the flowers of Whangdoodleland!

I simply adored the book, it was full of vibrante and explicit detail. As I read through, I could picture the Whangdoodle himself! If you like Harry Potter, or Ella Enchanted, you will love the book. With a young heroine named Lindy, and a mistief like Prock, its an interesting story. It so good I read it in one night, I couldnt put it down! When I rate it 5 stars, i mean 5 stars!

This is the best book I have ever read. I intend to read it again and again in my lifetime. It's funny and exciting. It took me to a different world. I recommend this book for all ages.

I absolutely loved this book and would have given it 6 stars if I could. The woman who was once Mary Poppins and taught the world to believe in fantasy and the power of their imaginations has done it again. This book sends a wonderful message about keeping our imaginations fresh and the power that the youngest among us have to enter into Whangdoodleland - a place that disappears when people stop believing in it.

Three rather ordinary children ranging in age from 7 to 13 happen across Professor Savant. He agrees to give them lessons on how to reach the magical place. What he is really teaching them though is how to see the world in a different way. They really do reach the land of the Whangdoodle and have many adventures while learning a lot about themselves along the way.

This book is filled with factual information as well. Only one small piece has become out of date, concerning DNA research, since the book was written. The rest is solid and very informative for intermediate grade students. I have seen this book used for literature study in a 5th grade classroom and it worked marvelously.

Why 5 stars?:
This book should have no problem holding the attention of 9-12 year olds though it is quite lengthy. The themes of using our imaginations and being creative are ones that are important for every age group. As well, there is lots of factual information in this book. It will serve well as a discussion starter and in literature study groups (not to mention it is also an AR book).

My third grade teacher read this book before. It was Amazing! All the imagination filled my heart, and later on I kept reading the book, until I went up to sixth grade, and couldn't find it no longer. Thank you so much Amazon for having this book, and I will treasure this book forever. Even though I am 12 years old, I am hoping I will pay my own allowence money just to get this book! Thank you so much having this book! I'll tell everyone about this!

I first read "Whangdoodles" in 1977 when I received it as an eleventh birthday gift from my sister. Since then, it has become one of my favorite children's books which I have revisited countless times and shared with my nieces and nephews. "Whangdoodles" is a whimsical, fantastic adventure which underscores how a well-developed imagination can be a tool for discovering the important lessons of life: goal-setting, training, trust, teamwork, creativity, open-mindedness and determination.

Lindy, Thomas and Benjamin are three ordinary children who meet and are taken under the wing of the extraordinary Professor Savant. Together they discover a unique land filled with rare and wonderful creatures like the Slippery Prock, the High-Behind Splinter Cat, Tree Squeaks and Flutterbies. They take a ride on the Jolly Boat, cross trecherous terrain and face many challenges on their way to meet the reclusive Whangdoodle.

With the Professor's guidance, the children prove that preconceived notions can be a handicap, and that faith and perserverance can help one achieve nearly anything.

This book is right up there with "Edward Eager's "Half Magic" and E. Nesbitt's "Five Children & It."

The begining of this novel makes the Potter children seem bored, un-enthuseastic, and such. That, even though it can at times be boring for the reader, helps the plot and charecters devolp. From the minute they meet Professor Savant, you can't put it down! It's a real treasure, because it lets you escape this world and go into Whangdoodleland with Lindy, Tom, Ben, and the Professor, through detialed description and points where you have to think, etc. A gem to be kept forever, it reminds me of THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and HARRY POTTER because of the light wisdom and magic blossoming all over. A sure hit with young children, it is best when read aloud. Other books by the author (those are also wonderful!) are MANDY and LITTLE BO. Now, try to go to Whangdoodleland with Tom, Lindy, Ben, and the Professor for yourself in THE LAST OF THE REALLY GREAT WHANGDOODLES!

I LOVED THE BOOK! This book makes you want to believe anything is posible. I read it over and over until I knew exactly what was coming up. It is a great adventure book. I recommend it. So read it.