BLOG TOUR: Charlie Bumpers vs. The Really Nice Gnome by Bill Harley

March 28, 2014

CHARLIE BUMPBERS VS. THE REALLY NICE GNOME

by Bill Harley, illustrated by Adam Gustavson

Peachtree Publishing, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-56145-740-3

Middle Grade Contemporary

Grades 3-5

Source: publisher for review (Thanks!)

ABOUT THE BOOK

Charlie Bumpers has his heart set on playing the role of the evil Sorcerer in the fourth grade play. He's even got the laugh down pat: Mwa-ha-ha-ha! But his dreams of villainous stardom go up in smoke when he finds out that Mrs. Burke has cast him as the Nice Gnome! Determined to rectify this terrible injustice, Charlie concocts one plan after another, but nothing seems to work. To make matters worse, his dad has assigned chores to all the kids in the family and Charlie's job is walking Ginger, the diggiest, sniffiest, and poopiest dog in the universe. Can Charlie deal with these challenges without causing havoc all around him?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A two-time Grammy award-winning artist, recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the RI Council for the Humanities and an NPR commentator, Bill’s songs and stories paint a vibrant and hilarious picture of growing up, schooling and family life. Home of "Zanzibar", "Monsters In The Bathroom", "50 Ways To Fool Your Mother", "You're In Trouble", "Dad Threw The TV Out The Window", "Down in the Backpack" and "The Ballad of Dirty Joe", Bill’s work spans the generation gap. Singer, storyteller, author, playwright, educator, performing artist – welcome to the world of Bill Harley – a world of wit and wisdom.

REVIEW

One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is how genuine it feels. Charlie thinks and behaves exactly like a fourth grade boy. In fact, he reminded me specifically of some of the boys I work with, boys who intentions are generally good, but whose impulsive decisions often land them in trouble. In this story, Charlie really doesn't like the part he is assigned in the class play and so he does everything he can to get out of it. An entertaining look at the trials and tribulations of a fourth grade boy who can't seem to help being messy and unorganized and exasperating. With plenty of humor and much for children to sympathize with this series is sure to be a winner.