The Adventures of Bottersnikes and Gumbles by S. A. Wakefield

Bottersnikes and Gumbles

by S.A. Wakefield

This stunning collection includes four of the best and favourite Bottersnikes and Gumbles stories chosen from the original beloved classics… Deep in the Australian bush live some very strange creatures. Bottersnikes make their homes in rubbish heaps. They have green wrinkly skin, cheese-grater noses and pointed ears that go red when they’re angry – which is most of the time. Gumbles are happy little creatures who can be squashed into any shape without being hurt. They’re clever and resourceful except when they go giggly. Then they’re far too silly to do anything at all. This is handy for the Bottersnikes who, with cries of ‘Got You’, grab the Gumbles, squash them into tins and only take them out when there’s work to be done. Can the Gumbles outwit the grouchy Bottersnikes and avoid being captured again?

Paperback

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was back in the mid-1970s when I was first introduced to the ugly, rude, stupid and lazy bottersnikes and the sweet, hard-working gumbles! Gumbles are hopeless when they go all giggly, which the bottersnikes often used to their advantage. Also useful, if you're a lazy bottersnike is the fact that gumbles can be squeezed into almost any shape without hurting them and they can't get back into their proper shape without help. This short book contains eight little episodes, all of which provide light humour and - unbeknownst to me when I was a child - the moral that laziness gets you nowhere and teamwork can get you out of a scrape!

The books may be out of print, but the fan's page is still going strong.

[Vix]

I have really fond memories of this book, as I first found it in my Primary School library, when I'd ran out of things to read; I've remembered it ever since. I'll have to get a hard copy myself for the purpose of nostalgia as I'd love to have this sat on my bookshelf with my other childhood books.

I remember when I was younger, feeling sincerely concerned for the Gumbles, whilst they tried to evade the bullying Bottersnikes, and enjoying every moment I read about the curious little world they came from!

Really cute, creative stories and I've remembered them my whole life vividly.