Prolific author/illustrator Adam Rex (Oh No, the Aunts Are Here) narrates the lighthearted misadventures of the cute and lovable Gumluck, a "very young" wizard with "big feelings... [and] not so many brains," in his first solo chapter book for young readers, The Story of Gumluck the Wizard.
Gumluck, the considerate "Little Wizard Who Lives in the Big Hill," hopes to be crowned the Harvest Hero for all the help he's given the local villagers. But his neighbors are annoyed by his imperfect magical solutions. (One such neighbor wants muscles without exercising--Gumluck gives him "too, too, too many muscles" to fit through doorways.) "He does whatever we tell him," the village baker says, "but he always screws it up." Gumluck is blissfully ignorant of his reputation until the Truth Fairy clues him in. But Gumluck rejects the Truth Fairy's "lies," resolving that "truth is good, [but] helping is better." When a disaster threatens to wipe out the village, Gumluck and friends Helvetica the talking crow and Butterscotch the "warrior" ghost prepare to save the day.
Helvetica narrates the silly, gentle, and good-natured tale in a concise, humorous voice with a conversational tone that creates excellent opportunities for reading aloud. Gumluck's simple childlike prose makes the book accessible for solo reading. Rex's soft grayscale pencil illustrations are full of motion and light, and his energetic broken line and excellent use of white space create dynamic scenes and a picturesque fantasy world. This whimsical story with an adorable protagonist and a strong message is a wonderful addition to the genre. --Cade Williams, freelance writer.