The Lost Galumpus

by Joseph Helgerson (Author) Udayana Lugo (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

A time-traveling woolly mammoth finds refuge and rescue at the unlikely hands of a possum and his community of woodland friends in this humorous middle grade for fans of The Secret Lake and The Wild Robot. Features charming black-and-white interior illustrations by Udayana Lugo.

When a furry, four-legged beast from the distant past appears in their park, the local animals are concerned about unwanted attention from humans. Gilly the Possum, assistant to raccoon Mayor Crawdaddy, is tasked with figuring out where the lost galumpus came from . . . and how to get him home again. While Gilly and the Mayor don't agree on much, they can agree on one thing: with a huge blizzard rolling in, the galumpus needs their help, no matter where he came from.

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$16.99

Kirkus

A comic time-travel escapade. . . . The madcap collection of players is amusingly cinematic.

ALA/Booklist

The whole book is a hoot, packed with memorable characters and hilarious high jinks. A laugh-out-loud adventure with kindness at its core.

Publishers Weekly

When a mysterious creature appears in the Twin Cities' Theodore Wirth Park, a possum named Gilligan quickly alerts the park's cantankerous elected official, Mayor Crawdaddy the raccoon, of the assumed threat against the peaceful animal community. The beast, which Gilligan dubs a galumpus, is actually a baby woolly mammoth named Twigs from 10,000 years in the past, who, alongside a park ranger robot called Smokey 3000 from an equidistant future, was transported to the present after getting caught in a time vortex. While fleeing from three animal pelt-clad humans, who arrived along with the young woolly, Twigs and 3000 manage to evade them in the park. Since the Twin Cities animals are honor bound to help all nonhumans, Gilly and Mayor Crawdaddy, aided by 3000 and the squirrel Earl of Sussex, work together to find the time vortex's origin so Twigs and 3000 can return to their respective homes. Cozy digital illustrations by Lugo (Santiago's Dinosaurios) suitably complement spirited prose by Helgerson (Crows and Cards). Myriad complications, such as Twigs's hesitation to return home, 3000's dwindling power supply, and the persistent hunters add narrative tension and hijinks, making for an upbeat adventure that celebrates community. Ages 8-12. (Jan.)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780358415220
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Clarion Books
Publication date
January 10, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV002060 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV039130 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Runaways
JUV064000 - Juvenile Fiction | Time Travel
JUV016090 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | Prehistory
Library of Congress categories
Animals
Humorous fiction
Generosity
Communities

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