Gustave

A little mouse and his friend Gustave go out to play one afternoon in this darkly comic story about the sadness of losing a friend and the joy of making a new one. The mouse’s mother has always warned the young friends not to stray too far from home. There is a cat, she says, and it is dangerous to go far away. But danger doesn’t stop this curious pair, and soon they find themselves face-to-face with their big blue-eyed enemy. In a feat of bravery, Gustave allows his friend the chance to escape — but is gobbled up by the cat in the process. Heartbroken, the little mouse must return home — without his friend — and tell his mother what has happened. A sweet surprise ending turns this melancholy tale of friendship into a strangely funny book.

Rémy Simard has illustrated and written many books for children, including Monsieur Noir et Blanc and Le père Noël a une crevaison, both finalists for the Governor General’s Award for Illustration. Pierre Pratt is an award-winning illustrator of over 50 books for children. He has been a finalist for the Hans Christian Andersen Award, and he has won the Elizabeth-Mrazik Cleaver Award, the Mr. Christie’s Book Award, and the Governor General’s Literary Award for Illustration three times. Both creators live in Montreal. Shelley Tanaka lives in Kingston, Ontario.