Finding Franois: a story about the healing power of friendship

Hardcover

Alice, a little piglet, loves life with her grandmother, making lists and crme brle, 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, Franois, a little dog, lives with his dad. Franois 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 Franois 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 Franois 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.