Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree: A Children's Fantasy Full of Hilarious Mischief

Mr Gum #7

by Andy Stanton, David Tazzyman (Illustrator)

Good evening and welcome to a tale of forests! Of legendary beasts! Of misbehaving children! Of caterpillars called Graham! And of a great big BEEFER of a cherry tree! But what dark secrets are hidden in that tree, where the leaves grow thick and green? Polly intends to find out, and she intends to find out by finding out. What will she find out? Read this book and you’ll find out!

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Humor, Young Adult

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2010

About the author

Andy Stanton lives in North London. He studied English at Oxford but they kicked him out. He has been a film script reader, a cartoonist, an NHS lackey and lots of other things. He has many interests, but best of all he likes cartoons, books and music (even jazz).

One day he’d like to live in New York or Berlin or one of those places because he’s got fantasies of bohemia. His favourite expression is ‘Good evening’ and his favourite word is ‘captain’. Andy has now written more than one book, but less than twenty.

-from publisher's website at http://www.mrgum.co.uk/author/

Reviews

[Tom Mooney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penultimate Mr Gum. I'm fatigued. My son is not.

[Leanne Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man was this a trip down memory lane. These were the first books I read on my own when I was about 7. To this day I still love them!!

[Maddi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutamente bárbaro beste liburu danen moduen. Da guztiz tontoa ta guztiz inteligentea aldi berean ta horrik dire nire gauze faboritoak beti.

[Escher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dandelions chasing dandezebras.
Woodpecker pecking and Wouldn'tPeckers not.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny, and easy to read books for children, and adults alike. Would definitely recommend.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luimme tämän kirjan yhdessä 7-vuotiaan, esikouluikäisen poikani kanssa.

Herra Gummi on minulle ennestään täysin tuntematon kirjasarja, mutta rohkeasti päätimme lukea suoraan tämän sarjan seitsemännen osan Herra Gummi ja kirsikkapuu. Tarina alkaa siitä, kun Vanha Mummo hokee "ennenvanhan" palanneen. Kaikki Lamonen-Pulin-kaupungin omituiset asukkaat lähtevät vaeltamaan metsään ihmettelemään, mistä on kyse. Onneksi myös neuvokas Polly-tyttö, joka huomaa jotain mätää puun sisällä asuvassa Runtussa, jota kyläläiset alkavat palvoa. Rohkea Polly ja Allan Raatali lyöttäytyvät yhteen, ja yhdessä uusien lemmikkiensä, joita ovat leppäkerttu Jussi Tuplatäplä, Tauno Toukka ja Penelope-kirva - sekä lopulta heidän miljoonat poikasensa - yrittävät pelastaa kyläläiset vale-Runtulta. Kuka onkaan sitten tuo Runtuksi tekeytyvä kurjimus? Tuskin vaikea arvata.

Tämä kirja rikkoo mielellään kaikkea mahdollista: tekstin painatustyyliä (teksti ei täyty perinteisesti koko sivua ylhäältä alas, vaan usein tekstiä on vain sivun keskellä), fonttikokoja ja -tyylejä, kieltä, merkityksiä ja sovinnaisuuksia. Tyyli muistuttaa hyvin vahvasti Roald Dahlin ja Russell Brandin tyyliä. Myös mustavalkoisesta piirroskuvituksesta minulle tulee mieleen Roald Dahlin kirjojen kuvitus. Harry Pottereiden kääntäjänä tunnettu Jaana Kapari-Jatta vastaa Stantonin erikoislaatuisen kirjoitustyylin suomennoksesta, mikä ei varmasti ole ollut helppo tehtävä.

Mietin tässä vain, että onko liika liikaa? Kun jatkuvasti tekstissä vilisee huuhahduksia (PÖÖ PÖÖ LEPATI LEPATI), höpsöjä lauluja, erikoisia tyyppejä ja kummallisia tapahtumia, se saattaa käydä turhan levottomaksi lukea. Huomasin, ettei poikani aina jaksanut keskittyä kovin sekavaan tekstiin, vaikka toki häntä välillä monet asiat kirjan tarinassa naurattivatkin.

Poikani mielestä Herra Gummi ja kirsikkapuu on hauska ja hupsu, mutta hiukan pelottava kirja. Kirjan mustavalkoisia ja epätarkkoja kuvia oli hänestä jopa liikaa, vaikka niitä ei todellakaan ole joka sivulla. Hänen mieleensä jäi kirjasta sivuhenkilönä esiintynyt tyttö nimeltä Pekka. Häntä myös huvitti kovasti Herra Gummin juoma, Laukkavillen kotitekoinen metsäsiideri, jossa on varsin omituiset ainekset.

Poikaa harmitti, kun herra Gummi paljastui kirsikkapuun sisällä mölyäväksi Gummiksi. Hän ei olisi halunnut sen paljastuvan vielä, koska kyläläiset eivät ehtineet antaa sille tarpeeksi lahjoja. Laukkavillestä, kentaurista, joka oli oikeasti Herra Gummin toveri Ville Viljami Kolmas, poikani ei pitänyt ollenkaan. Se olikin melko kummallinen hirnuja. Kirjaa hän suosittelisi rutkasti itseään vanhemmille, yli 12-vuotiaille pojille ja tytöille. Voihan olla, että vuoden, pari vanhempana poikanikin olisi ymmärtänyt tarinan paremmin. Tätä kirjaa mainostetaan erityisesti pojille sopivana, mutta mikseipä tytötkin voisi tykätä kirjan överihuumorista ja hassuttelusta, joka hipoo soveliaisuuden rajoja.

[Ethan Jung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello this book is about Mr gum (the villain, I think) Polly, Alan taylor the ginger breadman and Friday o Leary. He is tall, skinny and silly. Polly is a little girl who have pets of bugs in this book in chapter 8. But I can't tell you the pets name because it's a little spoiling. Crowded people keep shouting "RUNTUS! RUNTUS!" and also there is a new character named the old granny known as she is not mentioned in the book a lot.

I skipped book 6, 5, 4, 2, and 1. The setting starts at the Lamotic Bibber, Billy William the third is named galloping Bill this time not Burger Wizard.

DONE THE END NOT SPOILT PROBALLY.

[John Naylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that is hard to review without using other authors for comparison. It has the wit of Terry Pratchett, the absurdity of Spike Milligan and the language of Shakespeare (probably).

It is a fun read with a great sense of humour. Even for someone new to the series it was accessible and easy to pick up. It uses many styles and flows like a good simile.

I recommend it to the parents of 8-11 year olds or to be read to younger children.

[3SG (2024-2025) Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

We liked the book because it was a fun book and the song about Turkey the Flag Popper was very funny. Most of us found the book to be quite funny.

We did not like the book because we found the Runtus part repeating to be a little bit annoying. Some parts of the story felt a little bit dragged out.

[Ailbhe Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mr. Gum books are brilliant - perfect for reading aloud to crazy 6-year-olds. Every sentence is funny and gorgeously written, in equal measure. This particular Mr. Gum book might be my favourite. Runtus! Runtus! Runtus!

[Grace Sargeant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book.

[Séan Brazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it (again) to my son. It contained a section that made us laugh so hard we thought we'd broken ourselves.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I snickered all the way through this. I can't get enough.

[Ngọc · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cuốn này dễ chịu hơn và đã có chỗ hơi buồn cươi.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to stop reading out loud periodically because I was laughing so hard I cried.

[Kelly Morrow · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whilst the story line was intriguing at times, I struggled to enjoy this book because of the poor grammar.

[Abdul Rehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT (NEENAWNEENAWNEENAW)

[Tiina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compared to a couple of previous Mr. Gums, the cherry tree was again a more interesting one. Guaranteed funny language and absurd things with heroes and some potential magic.

[Austin Ajit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go through the crazy adventures lamonic street and the bank robbers

[Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super witziges Kinderbuch, die Übersetzung ist top aber ein Punkt abzug für fatshaming-Humor.

[Vanesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ale som to citala v slovenčine

[Coco Ramponi · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny series, can't remember exactly how each book in the series went.

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t like the part where they get married

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a good book it is my favourite stories I have ever seen in the world!.

[Gwen R · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the book Mr Gum And The Cherry Tree it was really amazing I loved it ❤️

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was recommended this book as I enjoy comic children’s fiction. This story is one from the series of Mr Glum, which uses similar themes and repeated characters. Wherever there is mischief Mr Glum is involved. In this case the whole village is convinced into giving their most precious belongings to a past spirit, who has come back. Although they are warned against it by, they are as always, nearly tricked by Mr Glum. I was disappointed by this book, as I felt it was trying far too hard to be funny. The plays on words were possibly too hard for those the story is intended for as the plot is simple and obvious. The elements of ‘randomness’ I found forced rather than natural aid to the story.

This chapter book could be a class reader for year 2, or as an independent book for year 3 – 6. It could be used as a series by the same author.

[Lavinia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great, fantastic and most marvellous. But what is going on in the nice and shiny but squeaky and creepy town of Lamonic Bibber?

I can tell you that the villagers (apart from Polly, Friday O'Leary and the gingerbread man Alan Taylor) have gone mad about a stupid old cherry tree. But, uh, uh, uh - that isn't just any old cherry tree. Well, I suppose it is, but do you think something (/, of course, someone) is lurking around somewhere near that particular little tree?

Hmm... Well, you'll have to wait and see and find out by reading this book and finding out...

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this Mr Gum (or as he is called in Swedish, herr Grums) book as much as the first one. There are some really funny lines, though. Like the one about how there were never unicorns, some horse just accidentally got an ice cream cone on its head (ok, I'm not really delivering it right). A part of the problem was I wasn't in the right mood for all the silliness. Sometimes you want a proper story with proper words, but if you're in more of a wackadoo mood then this series will satisfy.

[Federicogerig · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is called mr gum and the cherry tree,the author is Andy Stanton.

The main character is polly, she is a girl who lives with her friends, a dog called Stan and someone else called Friday o Leary.

My favorite part was when they gave all there riches to a cherry tree.
The cherry tree is an ancient tree and some people say there is a person called Rutus who lives there, Rutus is a man who brings back the old days.

The old days is where there's

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

The latest in the series is as good as all the rest. I don't know what it is about the bizarre sense of humour Andy Stanton has, but I enjoy it as much as the kids do. He has an incredible imagination and just enough irreverance and intellectual finger-jabbing to keep me waiting for the next installment.