Alice, a little piglet, loves life with her grandmother, making lists and cr me br l e, 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, Fran ois, a little dog, lives with his dad. Fran ois 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 Fran ois 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 Fran ois 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)
"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