The Lost Galumpus

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 time travel adventure 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 talking 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.

This laugh-out-loud illustrated story about found family has the whole woodland community in Theodore Wirth Park considering the best way to welcome a newcomer—and what generosity in the face of unthinkable circumstances can mean.

• Features a crowd-pleasing cast of cavemen, robots, and woolly mammoths!
• Perfect for animal lovers and fans of Katherine Applegate and Sara Pennypacker.
• A great choice for reluctant readers.
• Includes thoughtful note from author.
• Don’t miss other titles by Joseph Helgerson such as Horns & Wrinkles.

"Cozy digital illustrations by Lugo (Santiago’s Dinosaurios) suitably complement spirited prose by Helgerson (Crows and Cards). . . . making for an upbeat adventure that celebrates community." - Publishers Weekly

 [A] comic time-travel escapade. . . . The madcap collection of players is amusingly cinematic.   - Kirkus Reviews

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