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Nell of Gumbling #2
My Extremely Tiny Forest Adventure
Nell of Gumbling and her diary are back! From the bestselling author of The Okay Witch comes another adventure from a twelve-year-old girl living an ordinary life in a magical land. Will an epically enchanted camping trip gone wrong...turn out fantastically right?Welcome back to Gumbling—Nell Starkeeper's extremely normal fairy-tale hometown. And things couldn't be more happily-ever-awesome, because Nell is about to go on a Gumbling rite of passage—the Multi-Disciplinary Wilderness Engagement Adventure—when all of the seventh graders spend a whole week in the forest! Sure, it’s an Enchanted Forest that’s full of gumblecreatures, where your most secret wish could be granted at any moment, but that’s nothing unusual around here.What’s REALLY magical is that Nell gets to be on a team with ALL her best friends, learning about nature stuff and teamwork and having their very own campout (including roasting marshmallows)! Great friends + forest fun = best summer ever…Except her Thumbkin friend Gil has been a bit of a grump lately. And everyone's secret crushes are making things super awkward...So when the whole gang gets shrunk down to Thumbkin size after a wish gone wrong, Nell's problems get a whole lot bigger. Can Nell and her friends find a way to work together and celebrate each other’s strengths AND vulnerabilities...or will this camp-out be a GIANT disaster?
192 pages, Library Binding
Published September 17, 2024
15 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Emma Steinkellner
7 books215 followersEmma Steinkellner is an illustrator, cartoonist, and writer based in Los Angeles, CA.
She is the author and illustrator of the middle grade graphic novel The Okay Witch (Aladdin, Fall 2019). The Okay Witch tells the story of 13-year-old Moth Hush, who learns that magic is to be expected when you're a Hush in an adventure that spans centuries, generations, and even worlds as Moth unravels the complicated legacy of witches at the heart of her town, her family, and herself.
She is a graduate of Stanford University's department of Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, where she created, wrote, and illustrated her thesis It Gets Weird, a science fiction sex ed graphic novel for adolescent readers and where she proclaimed herself "one of Stanford's most elite goons".
Working in print and webcomics, Emma has illustrated projects with her radiant sister, writer Kit Steinkellner, including the teen rom-com webcomic Aces and the Eisner-nominated superhero coming-of-age story Quince with Fanbase Press and is the creator of the comic diary Pow Slam Sparkle.
She is the author and illustrator of the middle grade graphic novel The Okay Witch (Aladdin, Fall 2019). The Okay Witch tells the story of 13-year-old Moth Hush, who learns that magic is to be expected when you're a Hush in an adventure that spans centuries, generations, and even worlds as Moth unravels the complicated legacy of witches at the heart of her town, her family, and herself.
She is a graduate of Stanford University's department of Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, where she created, wrote, and illustrated her thesis It Gets Weird, a science fiction sex ed graphic novel for adolescent readers and where she proclaimed herself "one of Stanford's most elite goons".
Working in print and webcomics, Emma has illustrated projects with her radiant sister, writer Kit Steinkellner, including the teen rom-com webcomic Aces and the Eisner-nominated superhero coming-of-age story Quince with Fanbase Press and is the creator of the comic diary Pow Slam Sparkle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 3, 2025
Loving the character arcs Gil and Nell go through here. This story acknowledges the flaw of “toxic positivity” smoothly and learning to be content with change/loss of control (with other people).
The art is still so adorable, and everyone has a cute, wide nose.
3.5
The art is still so adorable, and everyone has a cute, wide nose.
3.5
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September 19, 2024Once again, would like to live in this world thank youuuu
June 9, 2024
Once again my favorite graphic novelist doesn’t disappoint! This was as cute and charming as the first one. I so enjoyed the mix of graphic novel panels and journal entries. I love this series because Nell remind’s me of Junie B. Jones, which is the series that made me fall in love with reading. The series continues to discuss difficulties with growing up like having crushes, being smaller than everyone else, dealing with insecurities. It handles preteen problems well. The adults in this are portrayed very well and are supportive of the children, even if their adventures make them nervous. I loved the introduction of the Thumbkins forest village. It was adorable and the art style of it made my heart warm. I hope there is another installment in the series!
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 2, 2024
ARC from Netgalley.
July 17, 2025
Another fun adventure with Nell! I really enjoyed this. Some pages felt a little heavy, but ultimately, I really enjoyed myself.
April 21, 2024
I stumbled upon this second book in the Nell of Gumbling series written by @emsteinkellner and
IMMEDIATELY fell in love with the world that she created for the characters of Gumbling.
Nell of Gumbling: My Extremely Tiny Forest Adventure is a great middle grade novel that follows Nell Starkeeper as she dives into a rite of passage: the Multi-Disciplinary Wilderness Engagement Adventure.
This exciting adventure (and challenge) takes Nell and her friends into an Enchanted Forest, brimming with gumblecreatures and other surprises along the way!
Any reader will find themselves cheering Nell on as she navigates the challenges of crushes, teamwork, and the great outdoors. Overall, Nell of Gumbling was such an entertaining and heartwarming read for middle grade readers who enjoy a touch of magic and a sprinkle of real-life social situations.
IMMEDIATELY fell in love with the world that she created for the characters of Gumbling.
Nell of Gumbling: My Extremely Tiny Forest Adventure is a great middle grade novel that follows Nell Starkeeper as she dives into a rite of passage: the Multi-Disciplinary Wilderness Engagement Adventure.
This exciting adventure (and challenge) takes Nell and her friends into an Enchanted Forest, brimming with gumblecreatures and other surprises along the way!
Any reader will find themselves cheering Nell on as she navigates the challenges of crushes, teamwork, and the great outdoors. Overall, Nell of Gumbling was such an entertaining and heartwarming read for middle grade readers who enjoy a touch of magic and a sprinkle of real-life social situations.
September 19, 2024
MY EXTREMELY TINY FOREST ADVENTURE is an exciting new installment in the fantasy series NELL OF GUMBLING. Nell is going on a wilderness adventure with her classmates, camping for a week. However, things go awry when they are all shrunk down to Thumbkin size after Gil wishes they would know what it felt like to be tiny. They will need to work together to find their way back.
What I loved: This is an interesting format, with much of it in journal form and key scenes shown in graphic novel format. This is great for kids who appreciate the visual nature and speed of graphic novels, but also want to enjoy chapter books - a great blend between the two. The graphic novel pages were illustrated fantastically well and capture the characters, their personalities, and predicaments well. Key dialogue is easily attributable, making it easy to understand and effortless to follow along. The journal entries add to the feeling and experience of it all, while also providing some more overarching narration to the story.
In terms of the story itself, this touches upon a lot of issues that will resonate with preteens and young YA readers. At the beginning of the book, the characters are absorbed in their crushes on other students and their own experiences, without exploring much outside their own bubble of self. The story brings up the need for empathy and teamwork that presents some potent themes. They learn a lot about respecting each other and their feelings, as well as find a bit of romance (hand-holding!) and strong friendship along the way. The romantic relationships that form were cute and age appropriate. The characters are likewise compelling and easy to relate to.
The story is infused with plenty of humor and magical situations and creatures that really add to the fun. This is a clever story with themes that readers can appreciate. The story will work well for older middle grade and young YA readers, due to themes, format, and characters.
Final verdict: Overall, MY EXTREMELY TINY FOREST ADVENTURE is an entertaining and engaging middle grade graphic novel that combines humor, compelling characters, and thoughtful themes into a great read for older MG and young YA audiences.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
What I loved: This is an interesting format, with much of it in journal form and key scenes shown in graphic novel format. This is great for kids who appreciate the visual nature and speed of graphic novels, but also want to enjoy chapter books - a great blend between the two. The graphic novel pages were illustrated fantastically well and capture the characters, their personalities, and predicaments well. Key dialogue is easily attributable, making it easy to understand and effortless to follow along. The journal entries add to the feeling and experience of it all, while also providing some more overarching narration to the story.
In terms of the story itself, this touches upon a lot of issues that will resonate with preteens and young YA readers. At the beginning of the book, the characters are absorbed in their crushes on other students and their own experiences, without exploring much outside their own bubble of self. The story brings up the need for empathy and teamwork that presents some potent themes. They learn a lot about respecting each other and their feelings, as well as find a bit of romance (hand-holding!) and strong friendship along the way. The romantic relationships that form were cute and age appropriate. The characters are likewise compelling and easy to relate to.
The story is infused with plenty of humor and magical situations and creatures that really add to the fun. This is a clever story with themes that readers can appreciate. The story will work well for older middle grade and young YA readers, due to themes, format, and characters.
Final verdict: Overall, MY EXTREMELY TINY FOREST ADVENTURE is an entertaining and engaging middle grade graphic novel that combines humor, compelling characters, and thoughtful themes into a great read for older MG and young YA audiences.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 15, 2024
I’ve always been a pretty big fan of Emma Steinkellner’s work in the past and so I thought I would really love Nell of Gumbling, In truth, I find that the book is pretty fantastic for middlegrade readers and one that I’m certain a great many kids will both relate to and be better for reading—but I was personally a little bored. There were a lot of great aspects to this book that makes it an incredibly easy decision to add it to my list of book recommendations for my students, from care and inclusivity to learning and activism.
My Extremely Tiny Forest Adventure was a great addition to the series and does what I would consider an excellent job of portraying empathy and care, but also addresses the truth that our support for others should and always will be nuanced. We are all learning when we comfort others and that’s an important message to hold dear. The story is goofy and fun from start to finish. The characters are all generally well-likable and I think many readers will feel themselves growing alongside them.
This is also an inclusive work, as it contains a few LGBTQIA+ characters, for which I am glad to see more of.
I’d definitely recommend Nell of Gubling to many, though I probably wouldn’t find myself rereading it any time soon.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Extremely Tiny Forest Adventure was a great addition to the series and does what I would consider an excellent job of portraying empathy and care, but also addresses the truth that our support for others should and always will be nuanced. We are all learning when we comfort others and that’s an important message to hold dear. The story is goofy and fun from start to finish. The characters are all generally well-likable and I think many readers will feel themselves growing alongside them.
This is also an inclusive work, as it contains a few LGBTQIA+ characters, for which I am glad to see more of.
I’d definitely recommend Nell of Gubling to many, though I probably wouldn’t find myself rereading it any time soon.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2024
In this second Nell of Gumbling graphic novel, the seventh graders are at a summer wilderness program in the Enchanted Forest. Steinkellner tells the story through journal entries that create a nature log and record the emotional journey of entering teenhood and her cast features characters diverse in gender, race, and sexual orientation. The fantasy setting also allows diversity in the types of beings, and includes fairies, centaurs, and thumbkins (very small people). Gil (he/him) is a thumbkin struggling in a world made for taller beings, until a wish gone awry turns the whole group tiny. A forest thumbkin named Dani (they/them) helps Gil recognize his own strength and be a leader. This graphic novel is the perfect mix of funny, feel good, and fantasy!
Steinkellner’s illustrations immerse readers in the natural setting with a color palette of greens, browns, and blues. The vibrant spots of color come from the clothing and the mystical flora. The characters have large eyes that show their intense emotions. The book ends with a script for the “Four Fools in the Woods” play that the kids act out, which is similar to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and fun facts about the Enchanted Forest. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
Steinkellner’s illustrations immerse readers in the natural setting with a color palette of greens, browns, and blues. The vibrant spots of color come from the clothing and the mystical flora. The characters have large eyes that show their intense emotions. The book ends with a script for the “Four Fools in the Woods” play that the kids act out, which is similar to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and fun facts about the Enchanted Forest. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
July 25, 2024
Nell Starkeeper is excitedly anticipating starting a summer camping program called MDWEA (Multi-Disciplinary Wilderness Engagement Adventure). This trip was supposed to be packed with learning and outdoor adventures with friends. However, Nell’s friends' attention seems to be more on their crushes than having fun. And when they decide to take a walk through the forest the group of friends soon learn that wishes can go terribly wrong. Gil, Nell’s Thumpkin friend, wishes Nell and the rest of her friends would know how it is to be tiny. Now, Nell and her friends must not only navigate being Thumbkin size, but how to work together to get themselves out of this huge mess!
Overall rating 3/5
I enjoyed how the characters had complicated relationships with each other, and how they would work to overcome those obstacles. Nell’s persistence to do anything to help her friends is a great characteristic trait for young readers. And the representation on how being a bad sport and only worrying about winning is also a great topic for children to recognize and learn how to deal with in real life.
*Thank you to Emma Steinkellner, Random House Children's | Labyrinth Road, and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.
Overall rating 3/5
I enjoyed how the characters had complicated relationships with each other, and how they would work to overcome those obstacles. Nell’s persistence to do anything to help her friends is a great characteristic trait for young readers. And the representation on how being a bad sport and only worrying about winning is also a great topic for children to recognize and learn how to deal with in real life.
*Thank you to Emma Steinkellner, Random House Children's | Labyrinth Road, and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.
July 3, 2024
Graphic Novel
I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publisher through NetGalley.
What fun to return to Gumbling and see the latest adventures for Nell and her friends. They are embarking on a week of summer classes in the Enchanted Forest and will get to end the week with a two night campout. All should be perfect as the five friends are together in one unit and they're ready to pass this class. However, life never is perfect and Nell has to figure out how to help everyone rally, especially when they all shrink to Gil's size. They have to work together to reverse the wish and to trust each other's skills. In the end, all comes right though they did not pass the course and will have to take it again in the fall. Nell learns some valuable lessons about friendships and support and accepting that not everything can be positive. She listens to Gil and figures out that it can be through sadder emotions that people grow and learn.
I appreciate the compassion Steinkellner shows for her characters. She wraps some important lessons in humor and fun.
I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publisher through NetGalley.
What fun to return to Gumbling and see the latest adventures for Nell and her friends. They are embarking on a week of summer classes in the Enchanted Forest and will get to end the week with a two night campout. All should be perfect as the five friends are together in one unit and they're ready to pass this class. However, life never is perfect and Nell has to figure out how to help everyone rally, especially when they all shrink to Gil's size. They have to work together to reverse the wish and to trust each other's skills. In the end, all comes right though they did not pass the course and will have to take it again in the fall. Nell learns some valuable lessons about friendships and support and accepting that not everything can be positive. She listens to Gil and figures out that it can be through sadder emotions that people grow and learn.
I appreciate the compassion Steinkellner shows for her characters. She wraps some important lessons in humor and fun.
October 31, 2024
This is a sequel to a book I loved. Nell Gumbling is about the small town of Gumbling and the inhabitants within. In the first book Nell and her friends were trying to save their town. In the second book they’re going away for a weeklong summer camping camp. The winners get these amazing jackets. But first Nell and her friends are going to have to handle changes in their friendship and how people can change as they grow up. I really did like this book. I do think it is less than the first book. This book is less graphic novel and more journal where the first book was more graphic novel, less journal. That makes it quite a bit longer to read than the first one. The story is cute and fans of the first book will enjoy this book. However, if someone starts with this book, the odds of them going back to book one are less than the opposite direction.
March 22, 2024
When I saw that I could take an early trip back to Gumbling, I jumped at the chance. I was lucky enough to read the first graphic novel in this wholesome series through NetGalley a while back and my fingers were crossed that I would get approved for this one, too. Emma Steinkellner has nailed the whimsy and wonder of being in middle school. I love how seamlessly the fun of this fantasy world is woven in with real-life, topical matters that the diverse cast of characters encounter. Everything about this story has me longing for a summer adventure even though spring has only just sprung. This sequel holds up and I cannot recommend both of these books enough. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
July 31, 2024
Nell Starkeeper is an ordinary girl living in a magical land. Just like any normal middle-schooler, she is about to embark on a rite of passage, a week long camping trip, except in this fairy-tale land the trip isn’t in just any old forest, it’s in the Enchanted Forest. This adventure, full of gumblecreatures, wishes granted, and crushes discovered, has Nell wondering if her friends can find a way to work together and celebrate each other’s strengths and vulnerabilities.
A delightful cross between the Babysitters Club series and The Tea Dragon Society, this graphic novel was such a sweet and honest insight into the life of Nell and her friends while also being full of whimsy and adventure. It is perfect for fantasy-loving tweens.
A delightful cross between the Babysitters Club series and The Tea Dragon Society, this graphic novel was such a sweet and honest insight into the life of Nell and her friends while also being full of whimsy and adventure. It is perfect for fantasy-loving tweens.
August 27, 2024
Emma Steinkellner has once again made a charming and relatable middle grade graphic novel. Even tweens in a fairytale world still have to go through awkward coming of age drama with Nell and her friends being no exception. I continue to enjoy the journal/graphic novel approach to the writing as it really helps get reluctant readers drawn in. The illustrations and facial expressions of the characters get me every time, I love the art style. The story was again, relatable, the groups problems with crushes, insecurities, and differences in size were dealt with well. This was a really fun summer/camp story that I will be suggesting to others. I hope to see more tales from Gumbling!
October 13, 2024
I just love this middle grade graphic novel series written in diary format. In book 2, Nell and her friends venture into the enchanted forest for a camping trip school assignment. When Gil accidentally makes a wish that his friends were all small like him so they could better understand where he's coming from, the entire team turns into tiny Thumblings.
There's lots of magic, first crushes (some of which are LGBTQ+), thinking about what it means to be a good friend, the problems with hyper competitiveness, and learning about empathy. The world building reminds me of the gnome villages I used to make outside when I was a kid. So very charming and magical.
There's lots of magic, first crushes (some of which are LGBTQ+), thinking about what it means to be a good friend, the problems with hyper competitiveness, and learning about empathy. The world building reminds me of the gnome villages I used to make outside when I was a kid. So very charming and magical.
October 22, 2025
Nell of Gumbling #2: My Extremely Tiny Forest Adventure
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5)
This was a cute and silly read. I think it was a cool expansion of the universe from the first book and helped to continue the character dynamics as well. It picked up further in the future than I thought it would but that was quickly established and it made sense. I'm not a huge fan of the way that Nell narrates the story but I still enjoyed it. I think the overall diary entry style does get a bit lost but I wasn't mad about that. I'm interested to see where the inevitable book 3 goes with the story! :)
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5)
This was a cute and silly read. I think it was a cool expansion of the universe from the first book and helped to continue the character dynamics as well. It picked up further in the future than I thought it would but that was quickly established and it made sense. I'm not a huge fan of the way that Nell narrates the story but I still enjoyed it. I think the overall diary entry style does get a bit lost but I wasn't mad about that. I'm interested to see where the inevitable book 3 goes with the story! :)
June 21, 2024
Nell of Gumbling is a cute book that is a mixture of elementary/middle grade fiction & a graphic novel following Nell’s class’s adventures in the forest.
I thought the illustrations were adorable & I loved all of the fantasy elements of the book. The characters had a lot of diversity which I appreciated, and world was fun & exciting. Personally, I would have liked a little more action in the plot, but it was a delightful read! I would definitely recommend it to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid crowd.
Thanks to NetGalley, Emma Steinkellner, and Random House for the chance to read & review!
I thought the illustrations were adorable & I loved all of the fantasy elements of the book. The characters had a lot of diversity which I appreciated, and world was fun & exciting. Personally, I would have liked a little more action in the plot, but it was a delightful read! I would definitely recommend it to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid crowd.
Thanks to NetGalley, Emma Steinkellner, and Random House for the chance to read & review!
July 27, 2024
This was a great middle grade graphic novel which is more journal and graphic novel combined. The illustrations were great and the story was super cute. This was about adapting to change within your friend group and how to support your friends without just cheerleading which doesn’t always help. Also about how to accept yourself for who you are and that your friends love you as you are as well. Super fun and fast read.
Thanks to Labyrinth Road and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
Thanks to Labyrinth Road and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
August 24, 2024
An enjoyable continuation in style, humor, and heart of the first. More changes await Nell and company and with them, both uncomfortable and delightful self-realizations that Steinkellner navigates with gentleness and wisdom.
The artwork/story is so appealing and accessible and cleverly designed. I really love this series. I think it’s a great opportunity for the Telgemeier, contemporary fic fans, familiar content w a fantasy twist and a journal-like format.
Note: My hard copy ARC is without color, but I expect it to be as expertly finished as the first.
The artwork/story is so appealing and accessible and cleverly designed. I really love this series. I think it’s a great opportunity for the Telgemeier, contemporary fic fans, familiar content w a fantasy twist and a journal-like format.
Note: My hard copy ARC is without color, but I expect it to be as expertly finished as the first.
September 9, 2024
I ended up reading this to my kids and they loved it. They did have a hard time keeping the characters straight as there are kind of a lot but it was fun and engaging.
Nell and her friends are back and going to summer camp to win special jackets and skip a class the next school year. Some of the relationship ship dynamics are shifting and the characters have to navigate the changes and it was well done. Great for middle schoolers. Even my little kids liked it.
Thanks to netgalley and random house children’s for an eARC.
Nell and her friends are back and going to summer camp to win special jackets and skip a class the next school year. Some of the relationship ship dynamics are shifting and the characters have to navigate the changes and it was well done. Great for middle schoolers. Even my little kids liked it.
Thanks to netgalley and random house children’s for an eARC.
June 28, 2024
This story was like reading the journey of a girl who is at a summer camp. As they are exploring the forest the smallest camper makes a wish that everyone was small like him. Then they all became small and had an adventure and even had some good lessons to learn how to put yourself in someone else's shoes as well as being cheery and happy does not always help.
July 12, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.
10/10 for the artwork, but I did not enjoy the story for this one at all. Nell was a side character in her own story while everyone else was concerned with crushes. It was really Gil's story and I wanted to see it from his perspective. The ending, although a good lesson to learn, was unsatisfying.
10/10 for the artwork, but I did not enjoy the story for this one at all. Nell was a side character in her own story while everyone else was concerned with crushes. It was really Gil's story and I wanted to see it from his perspective. The ending, although a good lesson to learn, was unsatisfying.
July 13, 2024
NetGalley sent me an ARC of this book. I did not realize when I requested this title that it was a sequel. I do think it could be read as a standalone but reading the sequel would help understand the friendship dynamics even more. While I did like the message of listening to people instead of just trying to offer positive platitudes or fixing their problems, I found the overall story just okay.
January 22, 2025
Cute, fun, but also kind of a lot at times. The tone of the story was a little all over the place and although I loved the fun fairy tale elements and the play, I think it was just a bit over the place. Still good, just I think I liked the first one more because there wasn’t a lot about this that felt…grounded. I don’t know how else to say that.
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April 15, 2025I'm not sure Emma Steinkellner could create something I wasn't happy to read. An adorable sequel to Nell of Gumbling, a charming blend of real world and fairy tale creatures, this time in a summer camp.
July 23, 2025
The last book only had one lgbtq, so I tried to ignore it, but there was just to much in this book. Someone add lgbtq as one of the tabs please. It has a good story line but there was just to much lgbtq. If you haven’t don’t read it.
x-new
July 6, 2024Squee!
November 4, 2024
Emma does it again with an absolute wonderful addition to the Gumbling universe! I want 100 more of these books please! Who do I need to write a letter to?
November 8, 2024
3.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews