The Sublime Luminary of Um by Erik Meyer

From Erik Meyer:

After sliding off the highway in a surprise blizzard, Theodore and Grandma Betsy find themselves in the land of Um, a world with strange inhabitants and different rules for technology and magic. Following floating beacons, they travel with a talking mannequin, a polite robot, and a good-natured bigfoot as they seek an audience with the Grand Luminary. In Um, humans are treated like mythological creatures, and not everyone is excited by the Earthlings’ arrival; for decades, Boffin, Trog, and Zard citizens have been migrating to the Tree of Life’s shade in Centrum City, and while an uneasy peace has existed between the powers that be, change is on the horizon.

A work of portal fantasy, this book draws inspiration from the brilliance of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its straightforward plot: unusual events whisk characters away from normal lives, forcing them to venture out and make friends as they attempt to journey home. Children deserve works that are as cozy as they are exciting (classics like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe have inspired generations), and unforgiving times can be a source of mirth and silliness and novelty. Onward! Upward!