Rex, Adam. Story of Gumluck the Wizard, The. Adam Rex, Illus. Chronicle, 08/2023. 133pp. Fiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-7972-1323-1. GRADES 3–4. OUTSTANDING.
A naïve but earnestly helpful little wizard named Gumluck is introduced in this first book in a cozy fantasy series for early elementary readers. Gumluck uses his magic to help a thankless crowd of villagers in the hopes of being crowned the next Harvest Hero. His sarcastic and sometimes critical raven pal named Helvetica narrates the story, speaking directly to the reader and adding laugh-out-loud commentary to the tale. Each page is adorned with monochrome sketches illustrating the small, childlike wizard; a quaint and quirky little town; and a caricatured group of townsfolk. Hints of diversity among the characters are portrayed through various shades of skin tone, facial features, and hair types. Elementary readers moving up from beginning chapter books to more challenging titles will find this story a great choice due to the large size of the text, illustrations on almost every page, and ample white borders. Fans of graphic novels and comforting fantasy with low-stakes drama, like Garlic and the Vampire (Paulsen, Quill Tree, 2021) or Hildafolk (Pearson, Nobrow, 2010), will appreciate the heartfelt, unexpectedly deep, yet still hilarious tale.
Katy Buder—Contra Costa County Library