Books with author Gus Gordon

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.* "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

Gus Gordon's The Last Peach is the story of two indecisive bugs contemplating eating the last peach of the summer in a hilarious picture book about anticipation and expectation. Summer’s almost over, and there’s one peach left. There’s also one big question in the air: Should someone eat it? What if it’s rotten inside?But what if it’s juicy?Should the bug who saw it first get to eat it?Should both bugs share it with their friends?Will anyone eat the peach?! EVER?!?

George has absolutely no interest in exploring the world. None at all. He's far too busy enjoying his home life and baking delicious pastries. Or so he tells all his friends when they invite him along on their wonderful adventures.But when George's friend Pascal digs a little deeper, the real reason George refuses to travel away from home is finally revealed . . . From the children's book author of the acclaimed Herman and Rosie comes Gus Gordon's Somewhere Else.

This child and their parent are almost ready for story time--but first, they must find the perfect seat! This cozy picturebook by Drawn Together author Minh Lê takes readers through various opposites ("Too rough! Too slippery!") as his characters search for just the right spot. Adorable art by acclaimed illustrator Gus Gordon invites adults and children to giggle all the way through to the heartwarming ending, when the answer falls right into their laps.

Once upon a time in a very busy city, on a very busy street, in two very small apartments, lived...Herman and Rosie.Herman liked playing the oboe, the smell of hot dogs in the winter, and watching films about the ocean.Rosie liked pancakes, listening to old jazz records, and watching films about the ocean.They both loved the groovy rhythm of the city, but sometimes the bustling crowds and constant motion left them lonely, until one night ...A Neal Porter Book

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.* "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

Gus Gordon's The Last Peach is the story of two indecisive bugs contemplating eating the last peach of the summer in a hilarious picture book about anticipation and expectation. Summer’s almost over, and there’s one peach left. There’s also one big question in the air: Should someone eat it? What if it’s rotten inside?But what if it’s juicy?Should the bug who saw it first get to eat it?Should both bugs share it with their friends?Will anyone eat the peach?! EVER?!?

Once upon a time in a very busy city, on a very busy street, in two very small apartments, lived...Herman and Rosie.Herman liked playing the oboe, the smell of hot dogs in the winter, and watching films about the ocean.Rosie liked pancakes, listening to old jazz records, and watching films about the ocean.They both loved the groovy rhythm of the city, but sometimes the bustling crowds and constant motion left them lonely, until one night ...A Neal Porter Book

George has absolutely no interest in exploring the world. None at all. He's far too busy enjoying his home life and baking delicious pastries. Or so he tells all his friends when they invite him along on their wonderful adventures.But when George's friend Pascal digs a little deeper, the real reason George refuses to travel away from home is finally revealed . . . From the children's book author of the acclaimed Herman and Rosie comes Gus Gordon's Somewhere Else.

When I was the father of three little girls, I used to read the Bible to them at bedtime. It was one of the favorite moments of my day, and these moments now stand as some of my most cherished memories. Because some of the words were difficult for a child to understand, I did some “on the fly” editing, changing words or phrases to something they could comprehend. The Psalms did not hold the intrigue and suspense of many of the narrative sections of the Bible, but they still held the seeds of poetry that sprouted into delight. The Psalms began to shape the concept of God these children were hiding in their hearts. When reading the Psalms, I wanted to respect the meaning of the text and use the language other translators had created, but find a way to connect with the girls I knew and loved best. Most of all, I wanted them to grow to love the Bible as I did. I hoped they would hear the majestic praises, heartfelt laments, and exhortations to righteousness that are found in the Psalms and “hide them in their hearts so they would not sin against God.” These daughters are grown and out of the house now, studying at their universities or divinity schools, and still reading in their beds at night just as I am. Now that I am having my first ever sabbatical after 27 years of ministry in local churches, I wanted to take some time to convert some of those memories into written treasures for other parents, children, and grandchildren. That’s why I’ve created this book of Psalms with illustrations. I have extracted 25 of some of the most memorable, powerful, and child-friendly Psalms in the Bible and edited them in such a way that they will be comprehended by a child. Appreciating the diversity of the Psalms, I made an intentional effort to include all kinds of Psalms: praise, thanksgiving, lamentation, confession, wisdom, and trust. I have attempted to paraphrase these Psalms, using language and imagery appropriate for children, while remaining faithful to the spirit of these texts. Some explanatory notes along with some conversation questions are included in the back for those who might find these useful. My hope is that you will create your own special moments of reading and talking about God and the Bible with your own children, grandchildren, or any young person you love.