Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree

Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree is part of the Mr Gum series of children's novels by Andy Stanton. A mysterious cherry tree appears in the town of Lamonic Bibber, leading to strange occurrences that affect the entire community. The story follows nine-year-old Polly and her friends as they investigate the tree's sudden appearance and its connection to the notorious Mr Gum. Their mission becomes complicated by the involvement of other town characters including Friday O'Leary and Alan Taylor the gingerbread man. The narrative blends absurd humor and fantasy elements into a tale about friendship and community. Through its mix of silliness and adventure, the book explores themes of unity, environmental responsibility, and standing up against destructive forces.

Readers call this book laugh-out-loud funny, with many parents noting their children asked them to read it multiple times. The absurd humor and silly wordplay appeal to both kids and adults. Likes: - Fast-paced storytelling - Quirky illustrations that enhance the jokes - Creative use of different fonts and text styles - References that amuse adult readers - Works well as a read-aloud book Dislikes: - Some find the humor too random or nonsensical - A few parents mention crude jokes - Plot can be hard to follow for younger readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.26/5 (230+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.7/5 (140+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.5/5 (30+ ratings) "Perfect balance of silly and clever" - Goodreads reviewer "The best Mr Gum book yet" - Amazon UK review "Too chaotic and strange for my 7-year-old" - Amazon US review

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🌳 The Cherry Tree is the seventh book in Andy Stanton's popular Mr Gum series, which has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. 📚 Andy Stanton worked as a film script reader and a cartoonist before becoming a children's author. He wrote his first Mr Gum book while working in a juice bar. 🏆 The Mr Gum series has won numerous awards, including the Red House Children's Book Award and the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. ✍️ The book's distinctive illustrations are created by David Tazzyman, who has become well-known for his quirky, energetic drawing style that perfectly matches Stanton's humorous writing. 🎭 Andy Stanton originally wanted to be an actor and studied drama at Oxford University, which likely influenced his theatrical writing style and the way he brings characters to life through exaggerated personalities and dialogue.