1. First book in a two-part series
2. Black and white sketch illustrations
3. Author interviews: https://www.geeksout.org/2023/11/14/interview-with-adam-rex-author-of-a-little-l... and https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article...
4. TeachingBooks resrouces including audio excerpts and book guides: https://school.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=88884&a=1
5. Themes including friendship, honesty, and self-awareness
6. Recommended for early chapter book readers ( )

This made someone’s “best of 2023” list and ohmygosh this is the most adorable Adam Rex I have ever read. It’s a sweetly funny tale of a wizard who is pathologically searching for love and approval, narrated by a cranky raven. ( )

Back cover: "This is a story about magic, if you like that kind of thing."

Little wizard Gumluck, described with affection as a "bumbling noodlehead" by Helvetica the raven, the story's narrator, desperately wants to be a hero - to be crowned harvest king - and to this end, he helps everyone he can, whether they're grateful or not (mostly not). Gumluck's magic doesn't always work the way people want, and sometimes his good deeds have unexpected consequences (a trip into the Haunted Forest to rescue a girl results in Gumluck getting a small ghost in his hair). The ghost (Butterscotch), Gumluck, and Helvetica make an interesting trio, and readers will easily recognize that the greedy king, self-absorbed and coddled prince, and entitled villagers aren't really worthy of Gumluck's help - and yet he helps them anyway, at a crucial moment where a falling castle tower endangers the whole town and their belief in him is tested.

A fun and entertaining series opener that delivers moral lessons gently. Perhaps my favorite part of all is the dedication: "For Lauren Pettapiece, whom I've never met. But she draws these raccoons, and her raccoon drawings make me feel a certain way, and in trying to capture that feeling I eventually wrote this, a book with no raccoons. That's how it works sometimes..."

Quotes

"You do not even make them say thank you!"

Gumluck bought marmalade from the marmalady and bread from the baker. (55)
"A thank-you is a gift...It has to be given." (Helvetica and Gumluck, 27) ( )

First sentence: Let me tell you how I met the wizard Gumluck. It was Monday. "it is Monday!" he said, in his little brass bed, in the hill that he used for a house. On Mondays Gumluck had visitors. He changed out of his nightgown and into his daygown. "So much to do!"

Premise/plot: Gumluck is a silly goose. NOT literally. He's a literary 'fool' character or 'noodlehead'. This one is narrated by a raven that has a complicated relationship with the wizard. At first, he really dislikes him (for valid reasons) and then through the course of MANY misadventures, he comes to like him and even believe in him.

My thoughts: This one is described as a "tall tale." I'm not sure I agree with that description. But it is definitely over the top in its silliness, its foolishness. But does being silly make it a tall tale? This one is an illustrated chapter book for elementary readers. The story was enjoyable enough. I personally didn't love the illustrations--in particular the cover art. I think Gumluck is giving off Donald Duck vibes and that just doesn't work for me--again this is all subjective. ( )

I love that Gumluck just wants to help people and become the Harvest Hero. Gumluck does not see the bad in people, he is kind, helpful, and hopeful. Helvetica is great, I loved her story arc and her realization when at the end of the book. I realize that this says Book one and I hope this becomes a series and that Gumluck continues to be helpful and hopeful. ( )