Gus

BOOK REVIEW

GUS

Author: Tyto Alba From the reader report by: Rahul Bery

This is a charming and brief story, with wonderful illustrations. The text is simple and spare, the words showing rather than telling, and the pictures speak for themselves.

The illustrations are wonderful, mostly watercolours with some hard pencil lines, giving the mostly rural scenes a wonderful, lush vividness which is given definition by the sharp lines. The palate is very rich with lots of greens and browns and warm colours as well as some brighter blues and yellows. The characterization, especially of Gus’s furious owner and the other hunting dogs, who look terrifying compared to the placid and chubby Gus, is spot on.

The book also has a lovely message. Gus refuses to engage in violence, even when he is coerced or pressured into it by his master and peers. He always chooses to help others whenever he can, using the physical advantages he was born with to help smaller and less bendy animals. The last part is almost like a fairytale as Gus and his friends leave the other dogs and the hunter behind and make their way into the centre of the forest, which is portrayed as an enchanted place of peace and contentment. It also shows the importance of ignoring other people when they say cruel and critical things about you. Gus knows what he is doing is good and that his master is wrong.

PUBLISHED IN NEW SPANISH BOOKS UK

NUEVO NUEVE EDITORES

Title GUS GUS

Author Tyto Alba Genre Children and Youth Pages 32

ISBN 978-84-17989-51-4 Year of publication 2020 Number of editions 1 Language Spanish Spanish retail price 16.00 €

Author’s biography: Tyto Alba (Badalona, 1975) took his first steps as a professional painter exhibiting in various Barcelona galleries. During a stay in Mexico, he began his career as an illustrator, creating the comic “Black River Together” and providing several short pieces for various publications. On his return to Spain, he worked for several years illustrating opinion articles and working on the PDA (“Pequeños Dibujos Animados”, Little Animations) project, making animation shorts with kids across the world. He co-wrote the script for “Santo Cristo” (Glénat, 2009), illustrated by the Mexican, Pablo Hernández and, the same year brought out, “El Hijo” (The son) this time with a script by Mario Torrecillas. For his next project he adapted the comic “Sudd” (Glénat, 2011), with Gabi Martínez, author of the novel of the same name. These last two works won him the Junceda prize in the comics category. www.blog-tyto-alba.blogspot.com

Synopsis: Gus is a hunting dog. Gus does not tolerate being obliged to do things he doesn’t Want to. Gus teaches us to give everything and expect nothing in return. Gus just wants to be happy. Tyto Alba, illustrator and author of numerous graphic novels, brings us his first children’s story, filled with beautiful illustrations and a great lesson about friendship.

Publisher: Nuevo Nueve Editores Publishing house specialising in graphic novels, comics, illustration and children’s stories.

Publishing rights available from: Nuevo Nueve Editores - CIF B88382684 Juan Álvarez de Mendizábal 25, local Dcha, Madrid, Madrid www.nuevonueve.com Contact: Ricardo Esteban Plaza [ricardo@nuevonueve.com] [rodolfo@nuevonueve.com]

Phone: (+34) 639 337 347

Comments: A story that teaches us about what friendship means and about commitment to others.