Finding François

"[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