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

Grade 2-4--Evangeline Mudd's primatologist parents are so obsessed with the golden-haired apes of Ikkinasti Jungle that they even raise their daughter based on the child-rearing practices of these animals. When the Mudds are sent, last minute, on a scientific expedition to Ikkinasti, they leave Evangeline with her father's "second cousin, twice removed" and his wife for safety's sake. Unfortunately, these relatives show total disinterest toward their charge as Evangeline becomes even more dedicated to preservation of all life and nature on Earth. After her parents disappear, the intrepid eight-year-old contacts Dr. Aphrodite Pikkaflee, world expert on golden-haired apes, and together they figure out that the doctor's greedy, anti-nature brother is behind the mystery. They travel to Ikkinasti where, with the help of reformed human headhunter Dadoo, they find and rescue the Mudds, stop the wicked plot to destroy the rain forest, and receive some slightly magical help from thousands of butterflies. There are some lovely, imaginative touches in this entertainingly improbable tale. Everything is sorted out neatly, but not facilely, in the end--people do have periods of sadness, there are still those who refuse to care about wildlife or nature. Wesson's pencil illustrations, reminiscent of Quentin Crisp's work, add greatly to the generally whimsical air. Ecological themes, humor, intriguing characters, and touches of absurdity should appeal to young readers with burgeoning social consciences.--B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Library, Sag Harbor, NY
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Hold on to the chandeliers! An eccentric couple’s passion for primates leads their dauntless daughter on a wild adventure in this offbeat illustrated novel.

Learning to swing from the rafters, eating peanut-butter sandwiches with her feet . . . Evangeline Mudd has had an unusual childhood. Her primatologist parents have taken their child-rearing cues from the golden-haired ape, whose resourceful and fun-loving lifestyle they deeply admire. But life takes a drastic turn when Evangeline’s parents are called away from their cozy New England bungalow on a research trip to the Ikkinasti Jungle. And when they mysteriously fail to return, it’s up to Evangeline to travel to Ikkinasti and find them herself! In this comical, fast-paced tale, David Elliott ventures deep in the jungle for some close encounters with giant spitting spiders, a crazed developer, a retired headhunter, some persistent primates, and an impressively plucky heroine.

David Elliott is the author of THE TRANSMOGRIFICATION OF ROSCOE WIZZLE, a Book Sense 76 Selection, and several picture books for younger readers, including most recently THE COOL CRAZY CRICKETS TO THE RESCUE! illustrated by Paul Meisel. David Elliott teaches in the MFA Program in Writing for Children at Lesley University.

Andréa Wesson is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and has illustrated several books for children, including OPERA CAT, JACK QUACK, and NOT JUST ANOTHER MOOSE. This is her first book with Candlewick Press.

"We have decided," her father replied, "that the time has come for you to learn to brachiate."

Evangeline's heart skipped a beat in anticipation.

"Really?" she asked, jumping up. "Do you mean it?"

"Come along, Evangeline, darling," her mother said.

Magdalena led Evangeline into the cozy bungalow, which to the girl's utter amazement and joy had been rigged from room to room with trapezes. The ceiling of that bungalow looked like the canopy of a circus tent, except there were hundreds of trapezes instead of just two or three.

"Happy birthday, darling," said Magdalena, rubbing noses with her daughter, the golden-hair way of demonstrating deep affection.

"Have a ball, my dear," said Evangeline's father, and picking her up, he extended his long arms until Evangeline took hold of one of the trapezes.

Evangeline grabbed the trapeze with both hands and pumped her legs. Within seconds the trapeze was swinging back and forth like the pendulum on a grandfather clock. Without a word from her mother or father, she grabbed the trapeze hanging directly in front of her with one hand and let go of the first trapeze with the other. In the wink of an eye, she was brachiating around the room like crazy.

"Wheeeeee," called Evangeline as she zipped over and around her parents. "Watch this!"

And letting go with both hands she did a somersault before she grabbed the next trapeze.

"She's a natural," her father said proudly as he watched Evangeline whiz around the room.