Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 10/20/2023 Gr 1–3—Helvetica the raven wryly narrates the tale of Gumluck, an earnest little wizard who lives outside the village and grants magical favors to the ungrateful villagers who come knocking, even when it costs him. But Gumluck's refusal to cast a nefarious spell for the arrogant Prince Whoop-de-doo (who "look[s] like a fancy toilet brush") earns him the mockery of everyone in the village. Unaware of his new reputation, the eager-to-please Gumluck grants an unwise wish for the king, accidentally putting all the villagers in danger. After Helvetica, a tiny ghost named Butterscotch, and a straight-talking fairy convince Gumluck that he's been used and mistreated, the wizard has a choice to make: will he save the villagers from their imminent doom? Rex perfectly renders the wide-eyed Gumluck and his companions and naysayers with just a few deft strokes, both in the pencil illustrations and in the beautifully compact, emotionally profound text. Gumluck is wise but guileless, clumsy but powerful, tender-hearted but superbly courageous. Readers will fall in love with him just as cranky Helvetica does. VERDICT Purchase multiple copies—you'll want to put Gumluck into every little hand and heart that comes your way.—Rachel Owens - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/01/2023 *Starred Review* Gumluck is a small, helpful wizard whose story is relayed by the curmudgeonly but good-hearted raven, Helvetica. Helvetica disapprovingly observes that the townsfolk like asking favors of Gumluck without giving him anything in return, not even a thank you. As the requests pour in prior to the Harvest Dance, Gumluck wields his sometimes-wonky magic and harbors hopes of being named this year’s Harvest Hero. But when Gumluck refuses an unethical request from the town’s snooty prince, unkind gossip starts to circulate about the wizard behind his back, and an unexpected trip into the Haunted Forest leaves him haunted by a small ghost named Butterscotch. Rex can always be counted on for a laugh, and there are many to be found in this early chapter book, namely in the distinct characterizations and Helvetica’s snarky asides. Amid the fairy-tale action (a crisis at the castle requires Gumluck to come to the rescue), Rex embeds heartfelt messaging about friendship, kindness, and gratitude that never gets sappy, and his pencil illustrations inject even more magic into this spellbinding read. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.