Description
Book SynopsisFor fans of The Rough Patch, 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 rest
Trade Review"[A book] to help kids navigate life during a pandemic. [
Finding François] 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
