Gumbles on guard

Bottersnikes and Gumbles #2

by S.A. Wakefield

Gumbles on Guard (Piper Books)

Genres: Picture Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens

Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Carmel Vermeltfoort · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in this series - Bottersnikes and Gumbles is truly magical; unfortunately, this follow up is a bit of a disappointment. What was special in the first book was that the creatures and their conflict was supremely simple - good versus bad, ugly versus pretty, scratchy and lumpy versus soft and squishy. Gumbles on Guard brings in all sorts of ambivalent creatures. There is the fox - very transactional and immoral and there is Mr. Lyrebird - a poor husband, but in defending himself draws on the old 'the Mrs. is never happy if I try to help' trope. Willie Gumble has ambitions outside the world of the Gumbles.

It worried me. The storytelling is a bit clunky too.

However, it was lovely to be introduced to a new, rather idiosyncratic Bottersnike, Glag, who was so wholly an artist that even the Gumbles became media for his artistic creations. Yes, that's it - the concept of a Bottersnike with a creative instinct is wonderful.

[Ninja · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Gumbles in Summer many years ago as a kid, so this was a bit of a recapturing of those times. Very Australian settings and scenery, with the nasty Bottersnikes doing their best to capture the Gumbles and put them to work for them in the aussie outback. The lyrebird is the foundation of the story, with the Gumbles wanting to protect it from both the Bottersnikes and the cunning (of course) red fox. Simple stuff, but fun if you're looking for adventures in the aussie bush.