Gordon and Tapir

by Sebastian Meschenmoser

Overview

Gordon and Tapir by Sebastian Meschenmoser, tells the comical story of odd-couple housemates (a particular penguin and an untidy tapir) and has been short-listed for the German Children’s Book of the Year Award.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735842533
Publisher:	NorthSouth Books
Publication date:	04/01/2016
Pages:	60
Product dimensions:	9.80(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD490L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Sebastian Meschenmoser was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1980. He studied fine arts in Mainz, Germany. His illustrations were chosen from more than 2,700 entries and presented at the Children’s Book Fair in Bologna in recognition of him being one of the most innovative new illustrators. As an accomplished artist with several exhibitions to his name, Sebastian Meschenmoser is among Germany’s most successful and admired young illustrators for children.

Editorial Reviews

★ 02/01/2016
This odd-couple story from Meschenmoser (Waiting for Winter) starts as Gordon the penguin, perched on the loo, reaches out and discovers that the toilet paper is gone. Following a suspicious trail into the bedroom of his housemate, Tapir, he discovers the room festooned with toilet paper and the rest of the roll piled on Tapir’s head like a turban. The two exchange accusations. Tapir’s dirty dishes teeter precariously in the sink; Gordon’s fishy garbage “stank to high heaven.” After Gordon moves out, readers may expect that it’s the end of their friendship. Not at all—they just need space. “From then on they called each other a lot. Gordon was invited to Tapir’s party, and of course he said yes.” Drawing with his own sublime blend of wit and intelligence, Meschenmoser warmly evokes the mathematical precision of Gordon’s pantry, the jungle-like chaos of Tapir’s room, and a silent supporting cast of birds, a hippo, and other zoo animals. There’s not a morsel of judgment, just the conviction that even hilariously different creatures can find a way to love each other. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Mr. Squirrel and the Moon was a top ten IndieNext Pick!

“Meschenmoser’s soft pencil portraits of the squirrel’s inner fears teeter right at the sweet spot between anguish and humor. The story’s deepest pleasure comes from the contrast between its ever-more-ridiculous scenarios and the artist’s solemn, classically proportioned drafting style.”—Publishers Weekly on Mr. Squirrel and the Moon

*Starred Review* "Drawing with his own sublime blend of wit and intelligence...There’s not a morsel of judgment, just the conviction that even hilariously different creatures can find a way to love each other."- Publishers Weekly

“As this book proves, squirrels, jail sequences, and edible heavenly bodies make for picture book gold. Delicious.”— Elizabeth Bird, Fuse #8 Production/School Library Journal, on Mr. Squirrel and the Moon

"...what I can do is show you without a sliver of a doubt that thanks to picture books like those of Sebastian Meschenmoser, we have absolute proof that Germans have a distinct and ribald sense of humor. ...This one’s a keeper."- Elizabeth Bird, Fuse #8 Production/School Library Journal

"Meschenmoser’s intricate pencil illustrations are full of meticulous comical detail..."- Etta Anton, School Library Journal

From the Publisher

2016-02-02
Gordon and Tapir discover that friendship isn't enough to find common ground. Meschenmoser's pals are about as odd a couple as an herbivore from the tropics and a pescavore from Antarctica can be. Tapir is the kind of guy who leaves the toilet paper roll empty because it is more fun to wear the paper as a turban than to have it handy for other purposes. Gordon, who is a penguin (as opposed to Tapir, who is a tapir), is of the opposite school: a place for everything and everything in its place. Though Gordon may look sharp, he grouses a lot. The floor is sticky with fruit. The sink is full of dishes. And when is that visiting hippo going to vacate the tub? Tapir is far from oblivious, however. What about that stinky fish garbage? What about the exclusivity of Gordon's colony of friends? Gordon has an answer. He will move out to a spacious, minimalist loft, and Tapir can have the jungle of mess all to himself. That's cool with Tapir. They can keep in touch by phone, pay each other visits. Is this the best friends can do at finding a solution? That affection can abide only at a distance? Though the final, wordless images hint that may not be true, it will take some work on readers' parts to arrive at that inference. Lovely artwork—colored-pencil delicate—artless theme. Dispiriting. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews