Doc Wilde and the Frogs of Doom
by Tim Byrd; illustrated by Gary Chaloner.
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons
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Reviewed by Alex McGilvery
Doc Wilde and the Frogs of Doom is a adventure story from Tim Byrd for older children. It is an old-fashioned romp with all the necessary cast of characters. The Wildes, Doc, Brian and Wren, are an adventuring family. They are trained and prepared for anything. When they receive a mysterious picture of Grampa Wilde and learn that he has vanished, they are off to the rescue. The adventure begins right outside their home and follows them to New York, then to South America.
While the plot follows the usual formula, Tim Byrd writes with an infectious enthusiasm. The interjection of graphic elements into the text for emphasis is a particularly effective device. The characters of the family are well enough developed to gain the reader’s sympathy, but there is plenty of room for the occasional surprise. I was pleasantly surprised to see the characters get into a lot of trouble while I had no doubts that they would surmount any obstacle.
Any book that introduces the Frogs of Doom has to have a sense of humor. Tim uses both over-the-top storytelling and understatement to keep the reader chuckling through the book. This is a book for both young boys and girls to enjoy. The book is clever and well written, the characters engaging, and young readers may accidentally learn something along the way.
Aussie comics virtuoso Gary Chaloner was the perfect selection to bring this action hero to life.
Armchair Interviews says: Doc Wilde and The Frogs of Doom is a fun, easy-to-read book for children–or even better for parents to read aloud.
Author’s Web site: http://www.DocWilde.com