Finding Francois
A Story about the Healing Power of Friendship
Published on 7. July 2020
Book
Hardback
40 pages
978-0-525-55400-4 (ISBN)
Description
Alice wanted a sister, or even a brother, but what she needed was a friend. And when she found him... she found so much more.
In this exquisite, gently funny, and reassuring tale, the lucky and lovely friendship between Alice and Francois spans the length of the River Seine and the loss of a loved one. Award-winning author and artist Gus Gordon captures the highs and lows of being little, and tenderly shepherds kids through the tough parts of childhood. With charm and compassion, Finding Francois acknowledges the grief children feel, revels in life's fantastic possibilities, and celebrates the affirming, healing power of friendship.
In this exquisite, gently funny, and reassuring tale, the lucky and lovely friendship between Alice and Francois spans the length of the River Seine and the loss of a loved one. Award-winning author and artist Gus Gordon captures the highs and lows of being little, and tenderly shepherds kids through the tough parts of childhood. With charm and compassion, Finding Francois acknowledges the grief children feel, revels in life's fantastic possibilities, and celebrates the affirming, healing power of friendship.
Reviews / Votes
"[A book] to help kids navigate life during a pandemic. [Finding Francois] touches on relevant topics like grief and long-distance friendships." -HuffPost? "Gordon's sly humor and understanding of child logic (very reminiscent of William Steig's) shine forth. . . . Elegant language, endearing characters, and irresistible images will warm hearts and minds with each reading." -Kirkus (starred review)
? "Endearing . . . Expressive . . . The precisely worded text, full of intriguing details, reads aloud beautifully. A heartening, memorable picture book." -Booklist (starred review)
"A beautiful, fun and redemptive story of friendship, loss, love and kindness." -Books to Borrow, Books to Buy
"Triumphant . . . Leavened throughout with gentle, tongue-in-cheek humor [amid a] central theme of enduring love." -Publishers Weekly
"[A] balance of joyful warmth and contemplative pathos, and the book is particularly respectful of Alice's grieving process, subtly underlining the fact that simply waiting for a friend to work through feelings is a form of support. The watercolor, pencil, and collage art pops . . . [A] timely message that friendships can be maintained over distance and time, and that there is value in both solitude and company." -BCCB
"Charming . . . [A] soothing, kid-friendly approach to life after loss. . . . This is a warm, gentle story about resilience and how the bonds of friendship can mend the heart." -SLJ
"Loss is overwhelmed by love [in this] story about the healing power of friendship." -Florida Times-Union
"Strikes just the right balance between earnest and playful. A tender and inviting reflection on the hope and renewal found in friendships." -The Horn Book
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Penguin Putnam Inc
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Preschool to Third Grade, Interest Age: From 4 to 8 years
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
FULL-COLOR ILLUSTRATIONS
Dimensions
Height: 258 mm
Width: 236 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight
442 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-525-55400-4 (9780525554004)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
07/2020
Dial Books
€8.99
Available for download
Persons
Gus Gordon is a writer and illustrator of books for small people, and older people who like small people's books. His works include I Am Cow, Hear Me Moo!, Herman and Rosie, Somewhere Else, and The Last Peach. Gus lives with his wife and three kids in the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia.