You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum

Author and illustrator Andy Stanton lives in North London. He studied English at Oxford but they kicked him out. He has been a stand-up comedian, a film script reader, a cartoonist, and an NHS lackey. David Tazzyman lives in South London with his girlfriend, Melanie, and their son, Stanley. He likes soccer, cricket, biscuits, music, and drawing. He dislikes celery.

Who is the most important character in this short novel? Is it the crabby Mr. Gum, who gardens to keep a fairy happy? Or is it the friendly, furry dog who leaves "presents" in gardens? Or maybe Polly, the pure-hearted heroine? It may be the story's narrator, who could be extraordinarily intrusive in print but, as the author reads his story, is engaging, funny, charming, and necessary as he ties together the odd bits of plot and bizarre characters. Stanton does a growling Mr. Gum and an annoyingly squeaky fairy AND manages to distinguish the large cast of odd folk from the town of Lamonic Bibber. Stanton's humor, shifting rhythms, and child-pleasing rudeness will engage young listeners. S.W. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine