Okay, first off, I must disclose that I grew up in west central Florida and I grew up going to Disney World. So, author Maddie hits close to the heart for me with this book, aimed at elementary and middle schoolers who are about the age I was when my parents took me and my brother to see The Mouse. (Like Pickles, I was easily scared, too—I didn’t go on Space Mountain until I was over 18 and on Hollywood Tower of Terror until I was over 30. But enough about me…)
Pickles, like in the previous book Wombats! Go Camping, is the childlike enthusiastic Pollyanna who finds everything magical. His dream is to go to the theme park Wizard’s Wharf. Albert is his curmudgeonly best friend. Albert doesn’t believe in magic, wizards, or fairies. Apparently, Albert has also never heard the tenet in our house back in the day: “Don’t “yuck” someone else’s “ooh!” He’s happy that Pickles is happy to visit Wizard’s Wharf, but after a couple hours of non-stop hits to his wallet and a couple of nausea-inducing whirly rides (you can see him turning green on page 22), Albert starts pointing out all the not-so-magical things behind Oz’s curtain. How did these two ever become best friends?
Despite his grouching, he sees his words have made Pickles sad, so he buys them Whimsy Whips and off they go! Then they run into Platters, who is the ride engineer at the park. She offers to show them a new magic ride that’s not open to the public yet! When the three get accidentally separated, do Pickles and Albert know each other well enough to figure out how to be reunited? Will Albert ever believe in magic? Will Pickles ever get to eat anything?
Maddie Frost’s comic timing is, as usual, right on pace. The art is colorful, sharp, and bright, and the panels are laid out in a predictable way that makes the story very enjoyable. Any child that loves Harry Potter, theme parks, or fantasy genre books will love this story.
And apparently, Pickles has never been told that you shouldn’t press the big red button that says, “DO NOT PRESS.”
You really really shouldn’t. (MUAHAHA!)
Wombats! Go to Wizard’s Wharf
By Maddie Frost
Penguin Random House Graphic, 2024
ISBN: 9780593465424
Publisher Age Rating: 6-9 years
Related media: Wombats! Go Camping
NFNT Age Recommendation: Easy Readers (5-9), Middle Grade (7-11)
