It's difficult to know what Fisher dad Evan Turner is more excited about - that his card game Go Bum is now a picture book or that it will feature in the September issue of the Scholastic Book Club catalogue which goes home in the backpacks of school kids around Australia.
"Growing up, I loved getting the Scholastic booklet, coming home, grabbing a texta, circling all the books that I wanted to get and haggling with my parents about which ones I could actually order," he said.
"So, for it to come full circle and now have my book featured in the September edition is just a wonderful experience. Couldn't have imagined it happening."
A public servant, Evan created Go Bum in 2020 with his son Levi, now 12, during the pandemic. The cheeky take on Go Fish has since sold more than 75,000 copies. Go Bum is also currently being trialled in the United States and will test the United Kingdom market later this year.
The much-loved game is now making the leap from the games cupboard to the bookshelf with the launch of The Bumlings, a picture book being published by Scholastic Australia on September 1.
Evan said it all seemed like it was meant to be.
"One day, I was sitting on the couch, I don't know why but I just started thinking, 'I wonder what the Go Bum illustrations would look like as characters?. So I got my iPad and started sketching little faces and arms on the bums and they looked hilarious. And I started giving them personalities. So, Pirate Bum is forgetful. He's always losing his booty," he said, with a smile.
"A couple of months later, incredible timing, Scholastic Australia reached out, randomly, and said, 'Hey, we love Go Bum. Would you be interested in doing a picture book inspired by the game?'. And I said, 'My goodness, absolutely'."
The Bumlings introduces readers to a delightful world where characters such as Clever Bum, Pirate Bum, Disco Bum, Beach Bum and Teeny Tiny Bum embark on a mystery packed with clues, surprises and plenty of laughs.
The story follows Clever Bum as she races across Bumlandia, solving clues to find the missing Teeny Tiny Bum - inviting children to hunt for clues and join the adventure along the way.
Evan has been working on the book for the past 18 months.
"That was really cool. I never thought I'd be an author," he said.
"And the illustrator, Dewy Venerius, who did the original Go Bum illustrations, she has done just an amazing job on The Bumlings world, like, it's so cute. There's so much detail.
"I really hope that kids love The Bumblings as much as Go Bum.
"And, I suppose, my special hope with this is that it finds a special place with kids who are reluctant readers, who think that books are not really for them.
"I love authors like Andy Griffiths, Aaron Blabey who have really pioneered this space where kids really find their books enjoyable and funny and makes them want to read.
"So, I really hope The Bumlings helps to send kids down the path to reading and really loving books."
Go Bum, meanwhile, is an incredible success story in the crowded games market. Evan, in 2024, also created an animals version with his daughter, Maggie, now nine.
A third Go Bum version is also launching in coming weeks with the Magical & Mythical Bums edition. It features the Spooky Bum (ghost), Thunder Bum (Thor) and the Dangerous Kraken.
"One of my favourite actors of all time is Chris Hemsworth, so I hope if he ever sees Magical and Mythical Bums, and gets asked, 'Dad, do you have a Thunder Bum?' that it brings a smile to this face," he said.
It's a huge outcome all round, from something that started as a school project.
"Levi is so excited. We made Go Bum together when he was six and he's 12 now," Evan said.
"He loves card games, board games. He also loves Minecraft and Roblox and things like that but I think Go Bum will always have a special place in his heart."
