MATT SPROUTS AND THE SEARCH FOR THE CHOMPY WOMPERS

The pitfalls of overscheduling come home to roost for a 12-year-old when he tries out for two sports while engaged in an urgent summer project.

Casting about for ways of raising money to help his beloved elderly neighbor, Farmer Jed, who’s at risk of losing his farm, Matt learns that collectors will pay a pretty penny for a complete set of Chompy Wompers. This line of coveted plush toys look to Matt like “a mix between a blob of green sludge and a giant half-eaten wad of gum.” Can he beat the competition to buy or trade for all 10 types before the farm is sold off? But it turns out to be harder than he expects to juggle training sessions with both his soccer and track teams while flying around town negotiating complex swaps to acquire the ugly toys one at a time. Something has to give. Readers of the previous two series entries won’t be surprised to find a cast of large-hearted people (even a pair of bullies remorsefully pitch in to lend a hand) and a plot replete with altruistic deeds and good choices. Matt has a string of well-earned triumphs and forms a new friendship with Maria, a competitive wheelchair racer. In the cartoon-style spot art, the cast members’ skin is the white of the page; hair cues some diversity in the cast. Matt presents white, and Maria has Afro-textured hair.

Chock-full of positive values but neither bland nor preachy.