Evangeline Mudd and the Golden-Haired Apes of the Ikkinasti Jungle [Hardcover]

Evangeline's parents, Merriweather and Magdelana Mudd, are not your typical mother and father. The Mudds are primatologists --- people who study apes and monkeys --- and their specialty is the golden-haired apes of the Ikkinasti Jungle. The Mudds are impressed by the fun-loving and harmonious way of life the golden-haired apes follow and decide to raise their own daughter Evangeline the same way --- with a few exceptions like playing the piano.

The Mudds are as happy as can be living in their New England bungalow until a phone call from Dr. Aphrodite Pikkaflee changes everything. Dr. Pikkaflee is the most famous primatologist in the world and she needs help. A new family of golden-haired apes was discovered in the Ikkinasti Jungle and the Mudds are needed to observe them for two weeks --- without Evangeline.

The Ikkinasti Jungle is a dangerous place to bring a nine-year-old like Evangeline. There are wormy things that crawl between your toes and enter directly into your bloodstream. There are mosquitoes the size of hummingbirds. And worst of all, there are giant spitting spiders whose spit can blind you!

Instead of exploring the Ikkinasti Jungle with her parents, Evangeline has to stay with her father's awful third cousin twice removed and his ex-ballerina wife. She can't wait until the two weeks are over. But then her parents mysteriously disappear, and it's up to Evangeline to travel to the Ikkinasti Jungle and find them.

David Elliot's EVANGELINE MUDD AND THE GOLDEN-HAIRED APES OF THE IKKINASTI JUNGLE is adventure-packed, funny and fast-paced. Elliot's conversational writing style will remind readers of authors like Lemony Snicket and Roald Dahl. Andrea Wesson's black-and-white illustrations throughout the book also compliment the fun-filled flavor. Readers will fall in love with the courageous heroine Evangeline. Will we be seeing her in a sequel? I hope so!

--- (...)

Dr. Merriweather and Dr, Magdalena Mudd are particularly interested in the golden-haired apes of the Ikkinasti Jungle, and wish to raise their child as the golden-hairs are raised. However, since Evangeline was obviously human that presented a few problems. For instance, while golden-hairs would never put a diaper on a baby that could be well, unfortunate, if the baby were human.

Of course, there were exceptions, too. The Mudds very much wanted Evangeline to take piano lessons, but they'd never seen a golden-hair pianist. This would be an exception to their rule. The Mudds are nothing if not flexible.

Thrilled at being sent to the tropical rain forest of Ikkinasti on a scientific expedition the Mudds are so eager that they never suspect anything might be amiss. They leave Evangeline with "her father's second cousin, twice removed and his wife." Melvin and India Terpsichore are extremely wealthy and absolutely horrible. Over a period of time Evangeline becomes miserable with this pair; she wonders what has happened to her parents. So, she writes a letter to the world expert on golden-hairs, Dr. Aphrodite Pikkaflee. He responds immediately, and it's not too long before he discovers that his avaricious brother is behind a plot to destroy the rain forest.

Evangeline and Dr. Pikkaflee journey to Ikkinasti to find the Mudds and save the rain forest. Once there they meet some pretty unusual characters including countless butterflies who aid and abet them in various ways.

David Elliott has one of the richest imaginations to be found today blended with a puckish sense of humor - an irresistible combination. He's a joy and so is Evangeline Mudd.

- Gail Cooke