Fizzopolis: The Trouble with Fuzzwonker Fizz: An Epic Illustrated Adventure About Friendship, Secrets, and Fizzy Creatures for Kids

Fizzopolis #1

by Patrick Carman, Brian Sheesley (Illustrator)

Welcome to Fizzopolis! Home to the world’s greatest soda pop, Fuzzwonker Fizz, and the Fizzies—fuzzy, fizzy creatures that live only in Fizzopolis. Join Harold and Floyd in this wacky new illustrated series from bestselling author Patrick Carman and Emmy Award–winning illustrator Brian Sheesley. Harold Fuzzwonker is an ordinary kid with an extraordinary fizzy friend, Floyd. But Floyd’s a secret—like a top super-secret. Harold must protect him, as well as the family recipe for Fuzzwonker Fizz, from the evil Snood Candy Factory. But it’s hard to guard a secret when he’s your best good buddy and he always escapes from your backpack! Harold chronicles his epic adventures—with a little artistic help from Floyd—that are sure to have Fuzzwonker Fizz squirting out your nose!

Genres: Humor, Fantasy, Childrens, Middle Grade

160 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2016

About the author

I have been a lifelong writer and storyteller. Salem, Oregon is where I spent my formative years and I graduated from Willamette University. After college, I spent a decade living in Portland, Oregon where I worked in advertising, game design, and technology.

I've written young adult and children's books for Scholastic, Little Brown Books For Young Readers and Katherine Tegen Books/ HarperCollins Publishers.

I've been fortunate enough to have had some bestselling series work: The Land of Elyon, Atherton, Elliot’s Park, 39 Clues, and Skeleton Creek. Here's a fun note...the books have been translated into approximately two dozen languages. Currently I'm developing a few new-media projects. Check out DARK EDEN to experience this type of cross-platform project.

When I'm not writing or creating a story, I spend my free time supporting literacy campaigns and community organizations, fly fishing, playing basketball and tennis, doing crosswords, watching movies, dabbling in video games, reading (lots), and (more than anything else) spending time with my wife and two daughters.

Reviews

[★MC's Corner★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW TO COME!!!

LOOK! I'M THE FIRST ONE WHO RATED IT! LOL

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

!!!

[Merna Mousa]

عادية مش مميزة .. والترجمة مش قد كده ، اللي مش هيقراها مش فايته حاجة واللي عاوز يقراها ممكن يستلفها من حد مثلا انما حرام فيها الشراء بصراحة
أعتقد حتى طفل صغير مش هتعجبه ، لربما تنجح ماريسول رايني أفضل منها بأشوااااااط

[AMY · Rating 4 out of 5]

124 pages. Fantasy meets a Charlie and Chocolate Factory-like factory. Interesting series. Wacky illustrations. Kids will love this one, especially boys. Highly recommended for Grades 4-5.

[Helen E Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with my child. He absolutely loved it. The story is funny and outrageous... all the things a 10 year old boy loves to read about.

[Kriste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever, mischevious, fun!

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 2 out of 5]

D

[BookLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely enjoyed reading this with my kid. 1st read it a few months ago, starting it for a 2nd time. I recommend Fizzopolis for family reading.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patrick Carman visited our school, and I thoroughly enjoyed this author visit. His story of Fizzopolis is a bit over the top and silly, but I think my third graders would love it.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world Patrick Carman created for this series is really cute. The illustrations help bring the story to life since Fizzies are not normal everyday creatures. The juxtaposition between good and bad candy companies is great, especially since Floyd seems to have difficulty figuring it out.

While I'm on the topic of Floyd, can I just say that he is adorable and I want him in my life? I also love the fact that Harold calls him his best good buddy. That's a phrase that seems like it should not work, but in this book, I loved every time it came up. Maybe I just want Floyd to be my best good buddy, and that's why it didn't bug me.

As an adult, I do have some questions that I wouldn't even care about as a kid. Is no one in the town even questioning the fact that Fuzzwonker Fizz seems to have no employees but the owner? It's a really popular soda, but no one seems to actually work there. Maybe they don't realize that it is made in their town, so they don't question it? Also, how big is Fizzopolis? Is it affecting any of the town's infrastructure?

Like I said, kids don't care about the questions I have, and really, I love the book even with them. I'm glad this is a series, because I want to read more adventure of Harold and his best good buddy Floyd. Also, Floyd is a great name.

Author: Patrick Carman
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publishing Date: March 1st 2016

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucky Harold Fuzzwonker lives with his adopted father, who has a secret lab producing the wildly popular Fuzzwonker Fizz. When Harold turns ten, his scientist dad allows him downstairs to view the super-secret-Fuzzwoker Lab. This is where he concocts delightful treats for kids. Harold is flabbergasted when he discovers the weirdly cute little Fizzies his father accidentally invented. When one of them secretly attaches to Harold trouble ensues. Of course there is a nemesis, evil Garvin Snood, a classmate, whose father has a competing sweets factory. Although the story is wacky and over the top, readers will grow to care about the survival of the secret of Fuzzwonker Fizz. Reluctant readers who love Captain Underpants, and even not so reluctant readers who enjoy Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will enjoy the outlandish humor of Fizzolopolis, and the zany pen and ink action packed cartoons that compliment the story and humor perfectly.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Harold Fuzzwonker and his best good buddy Floyd. Harold can be a daredevil and Floyd a bit ADHD, but they are the best of friends, and Harold's job is to babysit Floyd, keep him out of trouble, and above all keep him hidden! But when Harold takes Floyd to school with him in his backpack, Floyd gets bored and has very different plans for the rest of his day, including looking at some comic in the backpack of Harold's archenemy, Garvin Snood, and the action only gets faster from there.
If you like candy, cute fuzzy things, more candy, cute puppies, even more candy, and really long loud burps this book is for you. Patrick Carman's funny middle grade side shows up again and right in the middle of the Voyagers ride, wow that is a ton of awesome writing. The illustrations by Brian Sheesley are totally out (or maybe I should say under) this world they really rock, and make this book even more awesome.

[Stefanie Burns · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a far fetched story with a boy whose father creates FUzzwonker Fizz, flavored soda that creates long, loud burps. This story has his father, whom he calls Dr. FUzzwonker, inviting him into the underground factory. Harold is shown around and then given the task of babysitting a Fizzie. As you can imagine, it was no easy task and the two of them, along with Harold's new friend Sammy get into some sticky situations. The story ends with the promise of more adventures with the three of them.

The story is completely far fetched and reminds me of a cartoon you might see on the Cartoon Network or Nick Jr. (Do they still have that channel?!?). The story is peppered with exaggerated black and white sketches. It's an ok story, but I would never make it through another book of this series. Too many other great books!

[LeeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definite consideration for our district wide reading list appealing to lower readers;

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free in a Goodreads giveaway.

This was a very fun kids book. Great for young readers. I enjoyed the silly illustrations and the outlandish tales. I've been reading quite a few kids books as of late in preparation for the birth of our first son. This book is a little simplistic for adult readers but is perfectly wacky for a younger crowd. I look forward to reading this to him. I highly recommend it to anyone especially young rambunctious boys.

[Yin Yin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am 9 years old. I love to read. I started to read since I was 2. I think this was a good book because I liked the part when they went into Garvins dads factory and Floyd was about to eat all of the candy. I liked it because he was stuffing his mouth with the candy in the sentence with the picture. No offense but it was boring at the beginning but exciting and funny at the end. Harold was thinking Floyd was dreaming of him and Harold running in the sun screaming with their mouths open.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the Goodreads First Reads program.

I sat and read this to my kids. We were all laughing and commenting on the pictures. My six year old especially loved it. What is not to love when you are talking about "monsters", candy, and burps? This book was a little boys dream. I would definitely recommend you buy it if you have a young boy in your life.

[Nina DuBois · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book as part of the Goodreads giveaway.

This was a very cute read. It was funny and great for little kids. I thought Harold was a tad bit crazy, but he was a nice character and I liked the idea of Fizzopolis. It helps bring some imagination to the story.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definite order for my library - I can see my Wimpy Kid fans loving it.

[Lamar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay book but despite I'm not the target demographic, this is very disappointing and only recommend to the target demographic especially for fans who read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

[Josh Newhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Willy Wonka meets Silly Wonka! Just a fun read for kids to kick back and imagine something wonderful and wacky!

[Molly Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book through a goodreads giveaway. It was very fun! Very silly with the illustrations and the humor. My eight year old and I enjoyed reading it very much. Quick read.

[Patricia Kaniasty · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a cute read for little kids. Younger even than middle schoolers. Fun pictures and characters.

[Debi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a silly read that 3rd-4th grade boys will love!

[Samantha Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

almost like willy wonka and the chocolate factory but with pop

[Earline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting from the author of the Skeleton Creek series... guess he has quite a range.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story that will appeal to all kids.

[Sharif · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is fun because in the house there is a secret passage!
And there is fun things in the house like fizzes

[Mariah]

It was a good book, a lot of creatures.