Evangeline Mudd and the Golden-Haired Apes of the Ikkinasti Jungle

by ELLIOTT, DAVIDWESSON, ANDREA

• ISBN13: 9780763618766
• ISBN10: 0763618764
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-02-02
• Publisher: Candlewick

Summary

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.

Author Biography

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.

Excerpts

"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.

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Excerpted from Evangeline Mudd and the Golden-Haired Apes of the Ikkinasti Jungle by David Elliott
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.