Gus and Button by Saxton Freymann (5-Jan-2002) Hardcover

by Saxton Freymann

Joost Elffers and Saxton Freymann first revealed how peppers, pears, and potatoes could magically take on expressive faces and lively personalities in Play with Your Food. Since then, they've put their portraiture skills to good use telling fun kids' stories like this, populated by all manner of anthropomorphic produce. Gus and his dog, Button, (with black-eyed peas for eyes) live in a drab little mushroom town until one day a storm blows a mysterious bright green object by their window. Gus then becomes inspired to venture out into the world, through the Howling "Gus knew it was a dangerous place where he must never go. 'But I must find out,' said Gus, 'where things this bright can grow.'" And so begins his adventure, past Howell the Wolf (a sly artichoke), into the arms of new friends Cecil, Pip, and Belle (a good-natured green apple, a toothy orange, and a wide-eyed red pepper, respectively), and on to the bustling city of Cornucopia.Elffers and Freymann pack each page with scores of different fruits and vegetables, from Swiss chard to star fruit to patty pan squash, and even the backdrops brim with ingenuity. (Are those mushroom capitals on celery pillars? Is that river really made out of red cabbage?) Although you'll almost certainly risk some subsequent food play, Gus and Button are pals worth joining for a trip. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Childrens

Unknown Binding

First published October 1, 2001

Reviews

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable story and the most amazing creations of his that I have seen! The process to make the book is explained in the back (everything is edible) and a list of the vegetables is given at the back. There are a number of unusual ones.

[Ashley Boyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute rhyming book entirely using real produce for each illustration. In the back it lists out foods to look for throughout the story.

[Nessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a pick of my son. If I could split the rating I would give the photos that illustrate the book 5 stars and the text 2 stars. The photos are really the best part of the book. A world composed entirely of fruit, vegetables, herbs and mushrooms is the setting for a short tale of adventure. My son and I spent the bulk of our time with the book trying to find each of the food items used for the photos listed in the back of the book.

[Sara Lemonade · Rating 5 out of 5]

All illustrations are made of fruit and vegetables, photographed separately then composited by 1999-era computer. Everything is eye-popping except the artichoke forest and its artichoke monster, which looks just like everything else in the forest but with black-eyed peas for eyes. There's a reason we only use the heart of the artichoke. Awesome book though.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

You MUST linger on each page and appreciate the fantastic food artwork! The story is a beautifully rhyming story of adventure.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully creative illustrations comprised of fruits and veggies. This one is a joy to look at for all ages.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures in this book are amazing. So cool to see! And also all real vegetables and plants ....and mushrooms!!

[Marylovesreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute story about a mushroom who discovers something mysterious fall from the sky. It's a little pea that's been blown by the wind far from his home. This starts Gus and his dog Button on an adventure of discovery as he comes across new places and colours and friends. The illustrations are actually photos of vegetables and they are really amazing. I will definitely check out the other books by this author now.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing illustrations. I admire people who can draw, but people who can create a world out of food are amazing. This is a nice adventure story about a boy and his dog who travel through scary woods to a new place. Along the way he makes friends and brings new things back home. The best part is that all the illustrations are made from food. Love it!

[KarenMLISt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun way to entertain/engage/educate children (and even adults) about so many things including colors, vegetables, fruits, or the parts of a good story. Fantastic (as are all these author's books!)

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite children's picture books. The illustrations are all made up of vegetables and fruits. But in this book, the story is great too.

[Bottom Shelf Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://bottomshelfbooks.blogspot.com/...

[Liaken · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the other books from the same creators. Plot isn't their strong point, but rather variety and expression. Lots of creative veggie landscapes.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll read anything by Saxton Freymann. I read this one to my girls over and over again!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My girls (4 & 6) just LOVED how everything in the pictures were made from vegetables and fruits.

[Sheila]

Very cool book with photos of vegetables. Great for teaching kids about unfamiliar ones.

[Freder · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pictures are fun and inventive, but the text is a real weak link.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Horrible writing and lame story, but the vegetable illustrations were great.

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Made with vegetables. Interesting pictures.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cleaver illustrations!

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pictures were great. (story not so much) I made up my own story to read to the kids.

[Kristen Ferretti]

Love Saxton Freymann! The kids get a kick out of the fruit and vegetable characters

[Janis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The composition of photos of vegetables to represent everything is truly amazing. Plot is also good, but the visuals are so good I had to give it five stars.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gus and his dog Button leave their white world to brave the scary forest and discover color.

pictures are entirely of food, rhyming text

[Alexandria Hiam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gus and his dog Button leave their white world to brave the scary forest and discover color.

pictures are entirely of food, rhyming text