In the novel, names often indicate key character traits. Consider the names of the creatures and places in Whangdoodleland. Choose three and explain what they signify.

Analyze the relationship between Lindy, Tom, and Ben. Why does Lindy confide in Ben, and why do she and Tom fight? Compare these interactions to moments that show the siblings as allies, working together to help one another in Whangdoodleland and Bramblewood. What is the novel’s overall point about family, and does it change over the course of the story?

Talk about Whangdoodleland’s environment. What kind of place is it? What literary device does Julie Andrews use to bring it to life? Identify the colors, the terrain, and the creatures. What does it have in common with the Western world?

The Whiffle Bird often speaks in cliches or adages that turn out to have unexpected significance. How does this connect to the novel’s portrayal of imagination?

About the Prock , Savant says, “He’s one of the most important creatures in Whangdoodleland. He’s like a prime minister” (81). How is the Prock like a prime minister? What is his job, and why does it require him to oppose Savant and the Potter siblings? What dangers do humans pose?

The Whangdoodle says, “[H]umans aren’t to be trusted, are they?” (266). Why doesn’t the Whangdoodle trust humans? How does his suspicion relate to war and violence? What is the novel’s message about the latter?

Lindy is a dynamic character because she changes over the course of the narrative. How does Lindy learn to overcome her fears and function independently? Name specific moments that show her taking on the most responsibility of the siblings.

Savant and the children discuss genetics and discoveries that have allowed scientists to create and modify human life. What role does science play in the novel? What does it suggest about science’s role in society?