THE KAZILLION WISH

Australian author Place's debut children's book features a frequently silly, serpentine plot, zany characters and an excess of wacky names. The novel's opening establishes a strong relationship between Harlan and Ainsley Banana and their lonely father, who separated from their mother three years ago and suffers from "world-record mopes." Determined to find a cure for what ails him, Ainsley whispers to a dandelion seedpod, and a wish-granting flying creature emerges from it. The "frongle" introduces herself as Zootfrog and agrees to help the siblings find an "also-mom" who will fall in love with their father. But after entering the particulars into her calculator, Zootfrog dubs their complicated request "a wish to the power of a kazillion." She cannot simply grant the wish—rather the two must earn it. The frongle reveals a rhyme that cryptically outlines tasks the children must perform before their wish comes true, and their quest begins. The siblings encounter a plethora of offbeat characters along the way: a three-foot, blue-haired being named Zucchini Spacestation who helps them on their way, a giant chocolate-craving lion, a boy who pulls levers to move the planets and stars and who can manipulate time and a superhero who saves them when they plummet into the Zone of Darkness, among others. The promising premise, sprinklings of kid-tickling comedy and a generous number of half-tone illustrations give this volume its appeal. However, the narrative's frequent dips into inane slapstick detract from the noble motives behind the children's mission. Ages 7-10. (Apr.)