GUM

In a timeless tale of small moments and big victories, two boys' singular
obsession with an elusive prize pays off in a most surprising way.

James has five quarters and Danny has four. That means nine whole tries to get the little silver race car out of the gumball machine at Mr. Wright's store after school. Only very, very lucky people get both gumballs and the silver racer. It's a good thing that one of James's quarters is a Canadian quarter, which just so happens to be very, very lucky. But is it lucky enough to get him that silver racer? Bing! Bang! Kaboom! He's about to find out! Retrostyle illustrations in vivid colors add to the classic feel of this new story by poet Nancy Willard, author of the 1982 Newbery Medal winner, A Visit to William Blake's Inn.

Nancy Willard was an award-winning children's author, poet, and essayist. In 1982, she won the Newbery Medal for A Visit to William Blake's Inn. She has written dozens of volumes of children's fiction and poetry, including The Flying Bed, Sweep Dreams, and Cinderella's Dress. She was also the author of two novels for adults, Things Invisible to See and Sister Water, along with twelve books of poetry. Willard was also a professor in the English department at Vassar College.