Little Cap is a shy, anxious mushroom who feels most secure when surrounded by the comforts of house and the companionship of his greatest good friend, Gustav, a lovable slug. But in the future, Little Cap discovers that the gate of his white picket fence is open and Gustav is nowhere to be discovered, so he musters his braveness, packs a bag and ventures into the unknown to search out his good friend.
Along the best way, Little Cap faces many obstacles. He should scale a rocky cliff and traverse a fathomless gorge. He’s even compelled to cope with the indignities of life within the wilderness when he steps “in something really, really gross.” He additionally meets his woodland neighbors, together with a mole, a toad, a mouse and a grasshopper. Many of the creatures appear form and keen to assist, and one of them has even seen Gustav! The information spurs Little Cap on, whilst he continues to fret about his good friend. But will he ever discover Gustav?
Andrea Zuill’s Gustav Is Missing! is a heartfelt image ebook full of energetic element and character. Her expressive illustrations seize each emotion Little Cap experiences on his journey, from trepidation and frustration to fierce dedication and bravado. Zuill makes Little Cap’s small-scale world really feel giant and expansive by means of whimsical touches comparable to dandelions as tall as bushes. Text and picture contradict one another in a number of humorous moments, as when Little Cap expresses mistrust of “highly suspicious individuals” and we see him backing slowly away from an innocent-looking stalk of broccoli.
Zuill created distinct, playful characters in earlier books comparable to Regina Is NOT a Little Dinosaur and Cat Dog Dog (written by Nelly Buchet), and Little Cap and Gustav are cute additions to her repertoire. With his white-spotted crimson hat, Little Cap is recognizable as a fly agaric mushroom, however his blue overalls and massive, circular-framed eyeglasses give him a childlike high quality. Meanwhile, Gustav’s vibrant crimson collar and yellow physique call to mind an affectionate golden retriever; in a single vignette, Little Cap pats Gustav’s head because the slug’s tongue lolls out of his mouth like a panting canine.
Young readers who get pleasure from friendship tales and pet tales, and particularly these in want of a fable about confronting fears, will cheer for Little Cap at each step of his quest. Be positive to search for Gustav on the ebook’s endpapers as properly. You by no means know the place that foolish slug could be hiding!
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