In a decidedly goofball guilt trip, 10-and-a-half-year-old Fidge finds herself trapped in the color-saturated Land of the Wimbley Woos, her little sister Minnie's favorite picture book, in the wake of a spiteful act that puts Minnie in the hospital. It seems that the land is being tyrannized by Minnie's treasured plushy Wed Wabbit, who is angrily sponging up all the color and so forcing the Wimbley Woos lindrical creations who speak in verse and whose characters are keyed to their diverse hues change from fun-loving sillies to pale drudges more interested in, ugh, laundry and bank accounts. Guided by clues in a reasonably lucid prophecy and aided by both a pair of animate toys and her obnoxiously oversheltered cousin, Fidge enlists the Wimbley Woos in a daring scheme involving a tournament of competitive games to stave off such dreary fates. Evans really puts the odd into odyssey here, but even as readers snicker at the sly gags and ludicrous setting, Fidge's remorse is sharp and real enough to supply an effective emotional hook.

Ten-year-old Fidge, feeling responsible for her little sister Minnie's serious injury, is sucked into Wimbley Land, the embodiment of Minnie's imaginative life (based on her favorite book and peopled with stuffed toys). Sensible, energetic, resilient Fidge must locate Wed Wabbit, Wimbley Land's new dictator (really Minnie's toy rabbit), and return him to Minnie. This laugh-out-loud, inventive tale wears its messages lightly and keeps its satire and slapstick bouncy.

Ten-year-old Fidge, still adjusting to her father-s death two years earlier, is usually patient with her four-year-old sister, Minnie. But after a frustrating shopping trip, Fidge kicks Wed Wabbit, one of Minnie-s beloved stuffed toys, and Minnie gets hit by a car when she runs after it. While their mother stays with Minnie at the hospital, Fidge spends the night with her difficult cousin, Graham, whose parents take helicoptering to new levels. Amid an enormous thunderstorm, the two cousins are somehow transported to the land of the Wimbley Woos, colorful cylindrical creatures from Minnie-s favorite stories. There, they attempt to save them from a dictator-none other than Wed Wabbit himself. Evans (Horten-s Miraculous Mechanisms) smartly counterbalances Fidge-s guilt over her role in her sister-s injury with the impossibly cheerful realm of Wimbley land (the Wimbley Woos speak in rhyme, testing both kids- patience) and the improbable menace of Wed Wabbit who, like Minnie, can-t pronounce his Rs (-Those who bweak my wules will face my wage!!!-). This well-crafted journey of self-realization amuses at every turn. Ages 8-12. (Feb.)

Gr 3-6 Fidge (short for Iphigenia), her mother, and little sister Minnie, (short for Minerva) are getting ready for an outdoor vacation when something terrible occurs. Minnie gets hit by a car while chasing after her toy red rabbit, which she pronounces "wed wabbit." Fidge blames herself for the accident. While her mother and sister go to the hospital, Fidge gets sent to stay with her spoiled cousin Graham who is afraid of everything. Soon Fidge and Graham find themselves trapped in The Land of the Wimbley Woos , one of Minnie's favorite books. This is a land where Minnie's toys come to life and they are often giant-sized. Readers will be reminded of Alice in Wonderland as Fidge, like Alice, has to puzzle her way out of precarious predicaments. Memorable characters emerge like Ella the Elephant; the rhyme-obsessed, multicolored Wimbley Woos; and Dr. Carrot. Readers will be taken down the rabbit hole as these characters try to free Wimbley Land from tyranny. VERDICT Whimsical, clever, and laugh-out-loud funny. Lisa Gieskes, Richland County Public Library, Columbia, SC