Author: Chris Grabenstein
Genre: Juv Fiction
Age: 10+
Audio Publisher & Year: Listening Library 2018
Audio Reader: Bryan Kennedy
Audio Length: 4 hours & 58 minutes
Rating:
Welcome to Wonderland: Beach Battle Blowout
Author: Chris Grabenstein
Genre: Juv Fiction
Age: 10+
Audio Publisher & Year: Listening Library 2019
Audio Reader: Bryan Kennedy
Audio Length: 4 hours & 34 mins
Rating:
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I took a mini road trip over the long holiday weekend & I listened too book #3 & #4 in the Welcome to Wonderland series by Chris Grabenstein. I had book #3 in my audible library, but I found #4 at my library on CD. I wasn't quite finished with the 4th book when I got home on Sunday night so I took it inside thinking oh I only have 1 disc left I can finish it tonight. But as some of you may know I'm moving in a few weeks so I had packed my CD played. Had to get creative & use my librarian skills to finish the book, but it was worth it!
These books are super fun for kids & adults alike! We are once again back in Saint Pete Beach Florida with our main character P.T. Wilkey. P.T., his mom, & grandpa live at his grandpa's motel, the Wonderland. His grandfather shares a name with another famous Florida fun in the sun attraction destination connoisseur, they have quite the rivalry in P.T.'s grandpa's mind. P.T's best friend & long time guest Gloria Ortega. Gloria & her dad live in the hotel while her dad works for the small town TV channel, trying to work his way up to the top, ESPN Sports. The 2 kids have gotten into some interesting situations over the course of the books, these last 2 books are no exception.
In Sandapalooza Shake-up there is a sand castle building competition on the beach. The Wonderland has kinda partnered with their long time rivals next door, The Conch Reef Resort. The Wonderland has some very special guests staying with them since they became famous in the last book for have a movie filmed there. There is a jewelry heist that starts quite a commotion at the motel. But Gloria & P.T. are on the case!
Then in Beach Battle Blowout a magazine is holding a contest for the best family fun attraction in Florida! The Wonderland is on the short list because their long time rival, Disney, isn't allowed in for the first time ever. They must impress the judges & win the competition for P.T.'s grandpa.
The audio narrator of all the books is fantastic at doing different voices, he can do kids, adults, men, women, you name it. That helps a lot when you are listening to the story. I also like that it's the same reader for all the books, it drives me nuts when they change reads mid series!
The stories are always fun, there's a little mystery, some hi-jinks, a bad guy that's bound to loose, & a little twist at the end. In book #4 I knew what the twist was going to be from the beginning. But in #3 I wasn't entirely sure, there was a lot of different suspects for the theft.
The other thing that has always been talked about but is mostly in the background is P.T.'s dad. He apparently left when he was little & P.T. knows that, but it hasn't ever really been an issue. It seems like in book #3 that he really starts to wonder about his dad & makes more of an effort to try & find him then in the other books. Maybe he will find him someday???
There is a slight mention of one of the other series by this author in this book & I always like when they do that.
I really hope there will be more books in this series & since I have enjoyed these books along with this author's Lemoncello's Library series I plan on reading more by him in the future.
