Laughing Gum Tree

What do you think childhood is? Playing games as much as you want - enjoying long summer holidays - watching cartoons for hours - flying kites - living a comfortable life away from responsibilities... This question may seem simple to you. But rest assured, the answer is not as easy as you think. Teachers: “What is childhood? When he says "You will prepare a project paper of at least thirty pages about this-" Arda and his classmates are in great panic. Childhood is something that everyone knows and experiences firsthand. But it is not easy to put this on paper and explain it. If you ask Arda, childhood is a difficult struggle. The days pass by one after the other as I constantly study, do homework, go to the grocery store, and get scolded. However, according to adults' perception, childhood is a completely different adventure full of colorful memories. Someone should show Arda the smiling face of childhood before it's too late. Fortunately, Uncle Adnan, the shuttle driver, has a great idea to help Arda with his homework: Magic words... So, what is the secret of these magic words that brighten the souls of adults and land on their hearts like butterflies? Do gum trees ever smile or seagulls cry? Fish take baths - do scarecrows wear cardigans? So, is it possible to live in a world without money? It is possible to encounter a music box without a song, a circus star uncle, a priceless button doll, a fat-hearted school principal and many other colorful and extraordinary characters in this delightful story book, where we will follow Arda and visit the childhood memories of adults. The Smiling Gum Tree, which was awarded the Second Prize in the 2012 Tudem Literature Awards - Story is Life Competition by Koray Avcı Çakman, one of the popular writers of our literature, consists of seventeen interconnected short stories that can be read as an enjoyable novel. These stories, which build strong bridges between children and adults, come to life with Koray Avcı Çakman's creative pen and come to life in the minds of the readers...