Matt Sprouts and the Search for the Chompy Wompers

by Matthew Eicheldinger

Matt Sprouts is back in this third installment of the New York Times bestselling series! As Matt navigates the ups and downs of buying into a collectible toy hype, he learns valuable lessons about friendship, responsibility, and the complexities of making tough choices. Educator and social media sensation Matt Eicheldinger weaves a hilarious and funny narrative with charming cartoon illustrations that's perfect for young readers.

Summer vacation is supposed to be fun. At least, that's what Matt used to think, before he embarked on a seemingly impossible quest to obtain the coolest new collectible the Chompy Wompers. The toy might be ugly, but there's no denying it. The collectible is cool, and Matt's gotta  have it.

As Matt, his girlfriend Grace, his best friend Eric, and his little brother Elliott embark on the search for the Chompy Wompers, they encounter a motley crew of characters, including a misunderstood bully and a savvy comic store owner.

Matt Sprouts and the Search for the Chompy Wompers is not just an adventure; it's a heartwarming journey that encourages young readers to embrace teamwork, think outside the box, and enjoy the excitement of solving puzzles. This delightful tale, filled with snappy dialogue and author Matt Eicheldinger's original illustrations, is perfect for reluctant readers and reading enthusiasts alike.

"Funny, heartwarming, and impossible to put down, [The Curse of the 10 Broken Toes] is a must-read for anyone trying to survive the perils of middle school." – Dustin Brady, bestselling author of Trapped in a Video Game and other series, for Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes 

"Matt Sprouts is the next star of middle-grade comedy! Matt Eicheldinger expertly draws from his life to create this heart-warming and fun illustrated series." – Jarrett Krososzka, New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award Finalist, for Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes 

"This is the kind of book that makes a kid stay up past their bedtime, reading with a flashlight under the blanket.” – Nina Hamza, bestselling author of Ahmed Azis's Epic Year, for Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes 

"This humorously captivating tale perfectly captures both the excitement and listlessness of a middle school summer." - Terrance Crawford, bestselling author of the Piggy series, for Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes 

349 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 24, 2025

Reviews

[Chloe Rowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome! This book is so fun to read and has exciting plot twists! To make this book even better and tie everything together you should read book 1, Matt Sprouts and The Curse of the Ten Broken Toes, and book 2, Matt Sprouts and the Day Nora Ate the Sun. I would definitely recommend this amazing, fun filled, interesting book!

[Mark Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are three movies from my childhood—The Explorers (1985), Flight of the Navigator (1986), and Little Monsters (1989)—that I absolutely love... only the beginnings of. Because those movies start wonderfully, by presenting "real" kids - kids with quirk and heart who are full of hope for adventure... but then they find adventure and the fantastical plot eclipses the kids, the kids who are the actual fun part of the story.

This novel doesn't fail in that way. The third Matt Sprouts book, like the series's first two entries, delivers on its promise of an adventure that highlights the characters. This isn't a story that could exist no matter who it was about - this is a story that depends on these specific characters and how they interact. And how they grow together.

This is the best book of the three, more confidentially crafted and containing even more humor, mystery, and suspense. But it also benefits from the reader's awareness of who these kids are and how they've changed. This is a series that I wish would continue forever.

[Sarah McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“And the thing about hope is that it doesn’t take long for it to grow inside you, because that’s what hope does. It’s always looking for a way to bring you back to who you are and give you a glimpse of what you can do.” -Matt Sprouts (orrrrr it could be Matt Eicheldinger in one of his many inspirational videos.)

Seriously, this series just keeps getting better and better. What I love about these books is how the characters grow, change, and become better people over time. They’re full of heart and silly and fun, full of adventure, and kids are allowed to be kids. They don’t always make good decisions, but they learn from their mistakes, and they support each other. Matt’s inner dialogue we get from him as a narrator shares a lot of common thought processes, ideas, and conclusions that many upper elementary and middle schoolers are also thinking as they learn to navigate life. He’s relatable as a character, and he’s always trying.

This book left me with a smile on my face, and I’m looking forward to book talking this in the fall with my 5th graders!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Andrews McMeel Publishing through Edelweiss+.
Matt and his friends are back for a third adventure. This time they rally to save Farmer Jed's farm. They figure out a scheme to collect the latest hot items and then sell them for the money needed for Jed. If you've read the other two books, you know that this is not going to go smoothly. Readers will appreciate the sincerity and the humor involved as Matt dives into this full on.
Readers also see Matt jockeying two sports and learning valuable lessons about priorities and time management. The message will resonate with readers of similar ages as they also need to learn these valuable lessons. The way Eicheldinger portrays the Chomper Wompers craze will also connect for readers.
The characters are more fully developed in each book and I look forward to the next adventure.

[Valerie Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story with lots of lessons for kids snuck in. I didn't give it 5 stars because, as with the first two books, there are many typos. Misspelled words, wrong word choice, wrong character mentioned, punctuation errors. It really takes away from the professionalism, but not from the great story- and the surprise twist at the end.

[Anna Fink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Physical Book: loved reading this with our kids. They thought it was hilarious and suspenseful. They don’t like anything even remotely “scary” (aka adventurous, emotional, etc) and this was tame enough for them. Sad we have to wait so long for another!

[Laura Lacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Fantastic book by Matt Eicheldinger!
Couldn’t read it fast enough but also didn’t want it to end.
Thank you for a great book

[Kathy Spillar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better. These characters feel like my friends at this point. Lots of fun adventures with a few good life lessons thrown in as well. Can’t wait for the next one…

[Endrit Nikqi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received a DRC from Edelweiss in exchange for a review.

“Matt Sprouts is back in this third installment of the New York Times bestselling series! As Matt navigates the ups and downs of buying into a collectible toy hype, he learns valuable lessons about friendship, responsibility, and the complexities of making tough choices. Educator and social media sensation Matt Eicheldinger weaves a hilarious and funny narrative with charming cartoon illustrations that's perfect for young readers.

Summer vacation is supposed to be fun. At least, that's what Matt used to think, before he embarked on a seemingly impossible quest to obtain the coolest new collectible, the Chompy Wompers. The toy might be ugly, but there's no denying it. The collectible is cool, and Matt's gotta have it.

As Matt, his girlfriend Grace, his best friend Eric, and his little brother Elliott embark on the search for the Chompy Wompers, they encounter a motley crew of characters, including a misunderstood bully and a savvy comic store owner.

Matt Sprouts and the Search for the Chompy Wompers is not just an adventure; it's a heartwarming journey that encourages young readers to embrace teamwork, think outside the box, and enjoy the excitement of solving puzzles. This delightful tale, filled with snappy dialogue and author Matt Eicheldinger's original illustrations, is perfect for reluctant readers and reading enthusiasts alike.”

Each of the books in the “Matt Sprouts” series are unique and fun in their own way, and this was the best book in the series so far. Matt’s search for the Chompy Wompers throughout the book could have been repetitive, but Matthew Eicheldinger keeps things refreshing by also bringing in lots of events from Matt Sprouts’ own life and tying them together nicely with the hunt for the Chompy Wompers. The new characters are fun, and the story is engaging, refreshing, and funny. These books are getting better and better, and kids will love the antics that Matt Sprouts gets into in this book. I really enjoyed my time with this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐