Gum
Age 4+
Picture Books
In a timeless tale of small moments and big victories, two boys’ singular obsession with an elusive prize pays off in a most surprising way.
James has five quarters and Danny has four. That means nine whole tries to get the little silver race car out of the gumball machine at Mr. Wright’s store after school. Only very, very lucky people get both gumballs and the silver racer. It’s a good thing that one of James’s quarters is a Canadian quarter, which just so happens to be very, very lucky. But is it lucky enough to get him that silver racer? Bing! Bang! Kaboom! He’s about to find out! Retro-style illustrations in vivid colors add to the classic feel of this new story by poet Nancy Willard, author of the 1982 Newbery Medal winner, A Visit to William Blake’s Inn.
Creators
Nancy Willard (1936–2017) was the author of numerous books for children and adults, including A Visit to William Blake’s Inn, illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen, which was a Newbery Medal winner, a National Book Award Finalist, and a Caldecott Honor Book.The recipient of numerous National Endowment for the Arts grants for poetry, Nancy Willard also taught fairy tales, children’s literature, and other subjects at Vassar College from 1965 to 2012.
Jeff Newman grew up in Ashland, Massachusetts, and attended the Art Institute of Boston. He is the illustrator of Phoebe and Digger by Tricia Springstubb. Jeff Newman currently lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
