Finding François: A Story about the Healing Power of Friendship

For fans of A Sick Day for Amos McGee and In a Jar comes a tender and gently adventurous gem about the power of friends to soothe aches big and small.

Alice, a little piglet, loves life with her grandmother, making lists and crème brûlée, organizing buttons, and taking walks. Still, Alice wishes she had a sister--or even a brother. So, she does the sensible thing: She writes a note (Hello! I am Alice.), tucks it into a bottle, and tosses it into the river, where it drifts out to sea, is captured by an octopus, picked up by a seagull, and arrives at a faraway lighthouse. There, François, a little dog, lives with his dad. François is everything Alice could wish for in a friend, and soon the seas are busy with their bottled correspondence. But when a big change comes, and Alice can't bring herself to write François more letters, will the simple comforts of time, love, and friendship restore the light to Alice's life?

In this marvelous, gently funny and reassuring tale, the lucky and lovely friendship between Alice and François 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 on a journey full of fantastic possibilities, friendship, and healing.

[A book] to help kids navigate life during a pandemic. --HuffPost
* Reminiscent of William Steig...Will warm hearts and minds with each reading. --Kirkus (starred review)
* Endearing...Expressive...Intriguing...Heartening...Memorable --Booklist (starred review)
Joyful [and] contemplative...[A] timely message that friendships can be maintained over distance and time. --BCCB
Triumphant...Gentle tongue-in-cheek humor [amid a] central theme of enduring love. --PW
Charming...[A] soothing, kid-friendly approach to life after loss. --SLJ
Earnest and playful...tender and inviting. --The Horn Book

Author: Gus Gordon
Publisher: Dial Books
Published: 07/07/2020
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 10.40h x 9.30w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9780525554004
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 3.3
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 516152 / Finding Francois: A Story about the Healing Power of Friendship


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 04/15/2020
Publishers Weekly 05/11/2020
Booklist 05/15/2020 pg. 50
School Library Journal 06/01/2020 pg. 49
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 07/01/2020
Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2020 pg. 114
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2020 - Superior,Well Above Average

About the Author
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.