Anthony and the Gargoyle

by Jo Ellen Bogart, Maja Kastelic

A boy befriends a baby gargoyle in this magical wordless story in graphic-novel style from award-winning creators Jo Ellen Bogart and Maja Kastelic.

Anthony’s house is full of family photos — of his parents’ trip to Paris, his great aunt, and Anthony himself as a toddler, holding his favorite rock.

When Anthony wakes up one morning, he sees that his “rock” has cracked open — it’s hollow inside. He doesn’t see the little face peering out from the closet. Later, he discovers the newly hatched creature and they become friends. Anthony asks his mother about the rock, and she shows him a photo album of a trip to Paris. Anthony sees that his friend resembles the gargoyles at Notre-Dame cathedral. Back in his room, he shows the photos to the baby gargoyle who looks at them with longing.

News arrives that Anthony’s great aunt is in hospital. The family travel to Paris to visit, and Anthony secretly brings the baby gargoyle. When the family have a chance to climb Notre-Dame’s tower, Anthony and his friend wander from one gargoyle to the next … until the baby gargoyle sees one that looks just like him.

A bittersweet story of true friendship and letting go.

Genres: Picture Books, France, Fantasy, Canada, Friendship, Childrens, Travel

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Jo Ellen Bogart has written 20 books for young readers, including The White Cat and the Monk, which was named a Best Poetry Book by the National Council of teachers of English. Her bestselling books include Jeremiah Learns to Read, Daniel's Dog, and Gifts. Jo Ellen has won the Ruth Schwartz Award and has been shortlisted for the Mr. Christie's Book Award.

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

***NO SPOILERS***

This wordless picture book is so beautiful, charming, and all around adorable that it hurts. A little boy named Anthony wakes up one day to find that a large stone he cherished and kept on his nightstand has cracked apart like an egg. He soon becomes best friends with the hatchling, a…baby gargoyle.

This book is a treasure. The deep love that circulates among the parents, grandmother, and Anthony is palpable. I appreciate author Jo Ellen Bogart’s unusual vision: Both the heart-warming affection between a boy and a gargoyle and the central role of Notre Dame Cathedral. The ending is bittersweet.

Maja Kastelic's gorgeous illustrations were done in gouache (an opaque watercolor), which lends them a soft quality that matches the gentleness of this story. At the same time, they are impressively detailed on pages featuring gargoyles, a photo wall, and Notre Dame Cathedral. The baby gargoyle is beyond cute, and the “adult” ones of Notre Dame Cathedral aren’t nearly as frightening when their faces show a sadness that readers can sympathize with.

Anthony and the Gargoyle is a strong example of all that is so appealing and comforting about many children’s books--that feeling of wanting to sit with the story forever and live within it. It radiates warmth from the first page.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a children's Picture Book (There is no words) that I looked/Read with my twin boys. I have to say I found this book hard for my boys and even me at times to follow the story without words. The pictures where so cute and well done, but I think this storyline was so big that it really needed words. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Groundwood Books) or author (Jo Ellen Bogart) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bogart presents a magical, wordless story about a young boy and his friendship with an adorably shy gargoyle. The tale culminates with a poignant visit to Notre-Dame cathedral to see the gargoyles there. A wonderful story, made even more special by Maja Kastelic's artwork.



Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a look at this book.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t read and review many wordless picture books. But THIS one deserved a word or two of praise.

Anthony and the Gargoyle is stunningly beautiful. Every page holds softness, light, and warmth. And Paris! A couple of the illustrations made my jaw drop. The depth and detail here is dazzling. I mean... Dazzling!!!

A heartwarming and creative journey of finding home and the friends that help you get there. And so much more! This wordless story has a lot to say.

Please, please check it out! It’s a gem.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthony and the Gargoyle is adorably charming. The illustrations are stunning and eye catching. I love the whole entire aesthetic of the graphic novel and I fell in love with the little gargoyle. It reminded me of the beauty of having a relationship with a pet. The only thing missing from this touching story is that I wish it had dialogue and was longer. Thank you to House of Anansi Press Inc. and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wordless picture book has soft and gorgeous art, but the thread is a little hard to follow at times. And I wanted to know where Anthony got the gargoyle egg in the first place. From his parents who went to Paris as a young couple? From his ailing grandma (which seemed to be an unnecessary side plot)? I kept searching through the photographs on the wall for clues, but didn’t find any. Despite my confusion, I still really enjoyed the art which was so detailed and lovely.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming wordless picture book with a lovely art style. A young boy's pet rock hatches into a gargoyle! The gargoyle wants to go back to his family at Notre Dame, so they dream together of how he can go back. Such soft, gentle illustrations brimming with detail. Never thought I'd think a gargoyle was so endearing, haha.

[Mal the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Warning! This review contains spoilers.*

This book was really cute. My sister cried in it and told me she wanted me to read it and I did. Then I opened it and realized that it was a picture book and I don't read those but this was so cute. The gargoyle is probably my favorite character because he was just so cute and he looked so sad when he saw this one specific gargoyle because it was his dad and when they reunited, it was so cute. This is my first picture book I've read since I was probably little and I absolutely loved this! I recommend this to anybody who has little kids that like books or any adults who like to read picture books because this was amazing!

[Miles Row · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely illustrated book with no words but lots of details. Works for a range of ages.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very sweet story of friendship, travel and letting go, all told with no words. Anthony finds a rock that actually turns out to be a baby gargoyle. When his family travels to Paris to visit a sick aunt he brings his new friend. I love recognizing several locations in Paris including the Arc de Triumphe, Sacre-Coeur, Eiffel Tower and the Cathedral of Notre Dame. The illustrations are beautiful, with a graphic novel layout. This would be a welcome book in my elementary school library. Good for younger readers and non readers alike. Thank you NetGalley and House of Anansi Press Inc. for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely darling. It tells the story of a little boy who has a gargoyle egg hatch in his room. When his family visits Paris he brings the gargoyle who discovers his kind on Notre Dame. There are no words, so it can be enjoyed by people of all ages no matter their language. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and placed in the book like a graphic novel. I loved seeing the sights of Paris like cafes, Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, Arc du Triomphe, Gare du Nord, various bridges, and of course Notre Dame depicted in both the scenery and in the photos that decorate the family's home. The book itself is a beautiful ode Notre Dame and made me excited to visit again when the renovations are finished.

Thank you to NetGalley and House of Anansi Press Inc. for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was gorgeous and heart felt. This book captures the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" in it's entirety.
This sweet story was honestly the highlight of my day, and I plan on purchasing this book for my little sister for Christmas.

[Lacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's pretend I didn't solely mostly request Anthony and the Gargoyle because it reminded me of the Crave series by Tracy Wolff.

I have never read a wordless picture book before. This book was a beautiful place to start. I felt and understood every bit of the friendship and love between Anthony and his gargoyle. Anthony was even willing to help him find his 'family' even if it meant the gargoyle had to leave. Also, the illustrations were absolutely gorgeous. I will be adding this one to my collection.

***Thank you to Netgalley and Groundwood Books for providing me with a review copy.***

[Michelle (FabBookReviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by Jo Ellen Bogart and illustrated by Maja Kastelic, Anthony and the Gargoyle is a wordless early fiction title with a tremendous amount of heart and wonder. The story begins with panels that show a home filled with family photos, including one of a young child wearing a bib and happily holding an oval rock. Readers meet the child in question- Anthony, who is now a bit older!- and see that he still has this beautifully shaped rock in his room. But when Anthony wakes up the next morning, the rock has cracked wide open, and is completely hollow. As Anthony discovers the tiny stone-coloured, sweet-faced friend who escaped from his egg, a second layer to the story is folded in. A family emergency brings Anthony and his family (and Anthony’s newfound company) to Paris- a place where not only a beloved member of Anthony’s family awaits, but also where a very lonely family member of Anthony’s tiny friend patiently sits. Kastelic’s (a former art restorer!) illustrations are a breathe of fresh air, light yet precise and meaningful, with explosions of architectural grandeur as the story settles in Paris and readers get to see iconic landmarks such as Arc de Triomphe and Notre-Dame. Referring to a book as a gem can perhaps be an overused turn of phrase- but please trust me when I say Bogart and Kastelic’s children’s title is an endearing, highly appealing gem! The graphic novel-like paneling to tell the wordless story makes for welcoming reading, while the crux of the story is just so heartfelt and cozy (and the artwork is a standout). Heartfelt and cozy, it might be argued, are not descriptors typically associated with certain aspects of French gothic architecture, and that makes the story all the more special. Readers who enjoy the work of authors and/or illustrators such as Aaron Becker, Isabelle Arsenault, or John Sobol and Dasha Tolstikova’s Friend or Foe? might especially adore this tender story.

I received a copy of this title courtesy of Groundwood Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.

[Carolyn Bragg · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much to see in this picture book! There are no words inside--not even Anthony's name, but the events and emotions are just as easy to read--maybe more.

The soft watercolors beautifully show Anthony's history up to now; his childhood is shown in "photographs" in his home, and there are fun little details everywhere to discover and talk about.

When Anthony places a large gray rock on his bedside table, he expects to see it in the morning, but it has cracked open, and the contents have vanished!

What he finds is an adorable little gray gargoyle; a baby one. Naturally, the baby wants to know where its mother is. Anthony, being a bright young lad, asks his mother for a book with photos of gargoyles of the Notre Dame Cathedral. It appears very likely that the baby's parent is there.

Anthony and the baby enjoy doing things together, as friends do, but there is a little wistfulness. Then the illness of a relative requires them to visit a hospital in Paris, and lovely paintings of iconic buildings are included!

After the hospital visit, Anthony and his family go up to see the gargoyles. You can guess the ending.

To me, the story is not a sad one! (As some reviewers have felt.) It's a celebration of what makes friendship and family connections wonderful. Spending time together, and making small sacrifices to help another person feel better. There could not be anything more positive! Anthony and the baby gargoyle hold hands with eyes closed, and peaceful faces, knowing that what they share is timeless because it is selfless. It's love.

This book is appropriate for all ages, cultures, and backgrounds. Anyone who appreciates friendship and kindness will enjoy this as a gift!

In addition to the baby gargoyle, again, being simply adorable, I loved the scenes of Paris. I visited briefly many years ago, and I am happy that many more people will get a small taste of the beauty there.

Note: Gargoyles aren't scary anymore--at least some of them aren't--and I'm delighted to see such a wonderful book join in!

5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the preview ebook!

#AnthonyandtheGargoyle #NetGalley

[Sabine Ibing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anton hat einen Lieblingsstein. Als er eines Morgens aufwacht, ist dieser Stein zerbrochen, aus dem ein freundliches Steinwesen geschlüpft ist. Als sein neuer Freund Heimweh bekommt, möchte Anton ihm helfen herauszufinden, wohin er gehört. Anton recherchiert, findet im Familienalbum ein Foto von seiner Oma – noch recht jung – zusammen mit Papa, der noch ein Junge ist, vor Steingebilden, die aussehen, wie sein kleiner Freund. Das Männchen ist ein kleiner Wasserspeier und stammt aus Paris. Welch ein Glück im Unglück: Antons Oma liegt in Paris im Krankenhaus, bittet die Familie, zu kommen – genau dorthin, wo der Gargoyle hingehört. Gemeinsam fährt die Familie mit ihm nach Paris, besucht Oma. Auf dem Dach der Kathedrale Notre-Dame kann auch der kleine Gargoyle zu seiner Familie zurückkehren.

Ein Gargoyle ist ein Fantasiegeschöpf, das in zahlreichen Werken der Phantastik vorkommt. Vorbilder sind die grotesk-figürlichen Wasserspeier, die man an Gebäuden der Gotik-Epoche findet. Sehr bekannt sind die auf der Kathedrale Notre-Dame. Ein Buch ohne Text, das in seiner bildnerischen Erzählung eindeutig ist. Detaillierte Bildsequenzen in Panels ersetzen die Sprache. Eine Hommage an Baudenkmäler und an Paris. Maja Kastelic zeichnet im Aquarellstil in zarten Pastelltönen in Naturfarben, und die Illustrationen vereinen sich so mit der empathischen Geschichte zu einem gefühlvollen Gesamtwerk. Der NordSüd Verlag gibt eine Altersempfehlung ab 4 Jahren, was für mich passt. Empfehlung!


Maja Kastelic wurde in Slowenien geboren, wo sie Malerei, Philosophie und Visuelle Kunsttheorie studierte. Sie arbeitete einige Jahre als Restaurateurin von Fresken, bevor sie sich der Kinderbuchillustration widmete. Für ihr Erstlingswerk »A Boy and a House« wurde Maja Kastelic mit dem White Ravens Award ausgezeichnet, und ihre Arbeiten wurden für die Illustratoren-Ausstellung in Bologna ausgewählt.

Jo Ellen Bogart wurde in Houston, Texas, geboren. Sie hat ein Lehramts- und ein Psychologiestudium an der Universität von Texas abgeschlossen. Jo Ellen Bogart schreibt seit vielen Jahren Kinderbücher, die mehrfach ausgezeichnet wurden. Heute lebt sie in Guelph, Ontario.

[Sarah Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up from the library today and was so over the moon when I saw it was wordless.
Anthony and the Gargoyle tells the story of a young boy who wakes up one day to find a baby gargoyle in his bedroom. As sweet as it is, he knows it's lost and needs its mum back so he sets out to reunite them.

I adored the illustrations in this book and there's lots to be discussed around the theme of friendships and family. It's a beautiful story which I could see children of all ages loving.

My only criticism is there are parts of the book which aren't clear (due to it being wordless). There is a section where the family receive a letter and it looks as though their relative has died based on the images, which isn't the case. It requires a couple of read throughs to fully understand the story and its worth noting that you need to read each page individually. Initially, because the frames are the same across the double page spreads, I read it from left to right across both pages which isn't right. It's all of the left page, then all of the right. A different layout on some pages might have made that a little clearer.

Overall, it's a stunning book and one I'm so happy I read. I will be recommending it to the pupils at school who I know will just love researching gargoyles off the back of reading this.

[The Voracious Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Note: I received a free digital review copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***

Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words. Anthony and the Gargoyle tells the story of Anthony, a little boy who lives with his parents in a house full of photographs. These pictures tell the story of his life and his parents’ lives before him. In the background of some of them, you can see Parisian landmarks beside the smiling happy couple.

In one of the photographs, Anthony can be seen holding a pet rock. One day, this rock breaks open and from it springs a gargoyle that teaches Anthony an important lesson: sometimes loving something means being willing to let it go. He also learns along the way that love doesn’t end at separation—it can break any boundary and traverse any distance.

Perfect for fans of Aaron Becker’s Journey trilogy and Molly Idle’s Flora and Her Feathered Friends series, Anthony and the Gargoyle is sure to delight readers of all ages. It is due to be released on October 5th, 2021, and is now available to preorder wherever books are sold.

This review also appears on my blog The Voracious Bibliophile at: https://thevoraciousbibliophile.art.b...

[Christina Ensling · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Anthony and the Gargoyle” is an exquisitely illustrated wordless book by Jo Ellen Bogart. A small boy Anthony is the owner of an oval rock, which one day reveals itself to be an egg from which hatches a baby gargoyle. Hiding the gargoyle in his room Anthony seeks more information about gargoyles from his mom. She shows him photos from before he was born, when she and Anthony’s dad toured Paris and saw the great gargoyles of Notre Dame cathedral. Shortly after their conversation Anthony and his family suddenly need to travel to Paris to visit Anthony’s great-aunt. It is then that Anthony hatches a plan to reunite his new friend with family. The illustrations contain wonderful little details in the family’s collection of photographs; the craftmanship of Notre Dame's architecture is intricately shown across graphic novel like panels. "Anthony and the Gargoyle" is a magical friendship story destined to be a new classic.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

One night, a rock sitting on Anthony's bedside table hatches into a baby gargoyle. Anthony and the gargoyle become the best of friends playing and reading together. When Anthony asks his mother about gargoyles, she shows him a picture of her and his father at Notre Dame in Paris. Anthony and the gargoyle learn everything they can and hope to visit someday. Someday comes soon, a relative is sick in the hospital, and Anthony and his parents must travel to Paris to visit her, so the little gargoyle comes along in Anthony's backpack.

Anthony and the Gargoyle is a wordless picture book. The story is very sweet, and the baby gargoyle is the cutest thing! The illustrations are designed in panels, and flows easily from one frame to another. I loved looking at the "photos" and watching Anthony's interactions with his parents as well as the gargoyle. A beautiful picture book for all children. Wordless books are special.

Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Novel Obsession]

Jo Ellen Bogart’s newest book, Anthony and the Gargoyle, is adorable and sweet. Anthony wakes to find his rock cracked and a baby gargoyle in his room. The book proceeds with Anthony figuring out what kind of creature is hiding out with him and a mission to reunite it with its family.

The illustrations are soft and inviting, but the length and topic of the book don’t work well with the complete lack of text. My young co-reviewer was quite indignant at the lack of text. she stated that such books should be reserved for very young toddlers. It is likely best for very young children who want to vocally tell a story on their own but are not yet reading.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was provided by House of Anansi Press, Inc. Originally posted at Novel Obsession.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wordless picture book about a boy who takes a gargoyle to its own kind at the Notre Dame cathedral, in Paris.

If I hadn't read the synopsis, I would not have known that the reason for the trip to Paris was to visit a sick Great Aunt. I assumed it was his grandmother. Not sure how I would have figured that out. Not sure if that information is even important to the story.

It is cute, and the pictures of Paris are wonderful. I felt sad, though, because of course Notre Dame does not currently look that way, because of the fire. But other than that.

So, four starts for the art, because that is all we do have.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wordless children's graphic novel has beautiful illustrations, and the art is full of intricate details that readers can study over repeat experiences, recognizing more details and subtleties to the main story. This is very charming and sweet, and can appeal to adults and children who are interested in France, travel, and fantastical friendships between children and other creatures. My one critique is that it is sometimes difficult to follow some of the transition points in the story, and I think that the addition of a few lines of dialogue or basic description could help readers follow the events in a clearer way.

I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan Underbrink · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to NetGalley and House of Anansi Press Inc/Groundwood Books for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This was a new thing for me, a wordless book. I know it is a childrens book, but this is not for infants. So I was confused...but I absolutely adored the illustrations. They were beautiful and do depict a story. I pretended to read it to someone and made up a story. I think that this will charm the young and old. Reminders of travel, yearning to travel. making friends, learning to let go. Let your imagination flow. 4 stars.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wordless picture book about a boy whose parents met and married in Paris. When the couple has a baby boy he comes in possession of a rock. He cares for it and is surprised when it hatches. He sees a photo of a gargoyle that looks like his little pet. When his grandmother is hospitalized they go back to Paris and he takes the pet in his backpack. He reunites the small animal with a gargoyle in a photo of his parents at the Notre Dame cathedral. And the family returns home with a photo to remember. Very interesting to show this story with only illustrations.

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this wordless picture book, we peer into the house of Anthony and observe his birth and life in family photos. One night a strange little creature oddly resembling a gargoyle appears to have hatched from his favorite rock. His mom explains the rock is from Paris and shows him pictures of Notre- Dame Cathedral. When Anthony’s gramma becomes sick a trip back to Paris is decided. Bringing his little companion, he is able to reunite him with his parent. There is much to see and interpret in this beautifully illustrated fantasy about family and love.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wordless picture book - closer to the style of a wordless graphic novel (or short story) than a typical wordless picture book - tells the story of a boy who has raised a young gargoyle and is now returning him to his mother at Notre Dame. It's a story about love and family and letting go of something you love, all done in really lovely illustrations.

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for review via NetGalley.

[Gloria Rodolpho · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wordless book is adorable. The illustrations are on point and the story itself is perfect. The illustrations really bring this book to life and totally won me over.

This is a story about finding new things and letting go as we sometimes must do in life. You can tell how much the characters love one another. It is that reason certain character learn to let go. Their love is strong enough to allow that. All ages will love this book.

[Mortisha Cassavetes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully illustrated story about a young boy who finds his favorite rock has cracked open and he then finds a little gargoyle hiding. He and the gargoyle become close friends but when his Grandmother gets ill, they must take a trip to Paris, France and the young boy sneaks the little gargoyle into his backpack in hopes to reunite him with the gargoyles of Notre-Dame. This picture book tells a wonderful story about friendship all with illustrations. I highly recommend it.

[David Bruggink · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautifully illustrated picture books/graphic novels in recent memory. It cleverly tells a wordless story that touches on themes that will resonate with kids: exploring a new place, making a new friend, reuniting with loved ones, having to say goodbye. The wordless format is warranted and works very well; the story is told with economy and elegance, mixing good natured humor with cuteness and earnestness.