Gustav Is Missing!: A Tale of Friendship and Bravery

by Andrea Zuill

A story of friendship and bravery, featuring a little mushroom who sets off into the scary world to find his missing pet slug.

Oh, no! When mushroom boy Little Cap's pet slug, Gustav, goes missing, Little Cap is beside himself. How can he summon the courage to leave his cozy home to find him? But summon he does. There are many suspicious characters just outside his door and-- gasp!-- he has to talk to his neighbors, but Little Cap can't be stopped.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Adventure, Humor, Animals, Nature

40 pages, Hardcover

Published April 11, 2023

Reviews

[itskaileysworld · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really sweet book. I love the illustration and drawings. Beautifully drawn and also super wonderful. <3

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special endpapers with Gustav hidden in them!

[Catarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a long story book, but such a sweet tale. Little Cap became brave looking for his friend, and the search for Gustav was beautifully written. The illustrations were magnificent and I could ask for no better book about a mushroom and slug! I would recommend this to everyone.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mentally, I'm here, in Little Cap and Gustav's cozy house.

[Sarah BT · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so cute! What a fun picture book with an almost comic-like feel about anxiety, bravery, and friendship. Some of Little Cap's adventures are on wordless spreads, so this could also be a great jumping off point for creative writing and storytelling.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute! A little mushroom goes looking for his missing pet slug, and finds courage, adventure and neighbors along the way. Absolutely delightful.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

2023 might be the year of the slug since this is the second picture book I've read this year featuring a slug as a character. Arguably, slugs are creatures that aren't known for their cuteness, but this one with a moniker of Gustav actually is. Little Cap, his best friend, prefers his quiet and predictable life in his own home where he can control just about everything and avoid the frantic outside world. But the mushroom is forced to leave all that comfort when someone leaves his gate open and Gustav disappears. He overcomes various fears, even talks to his neighbors and some strangers, and eventually finds his friend. The trip changes Little Cap, making him more social and open to new experiences. Why, he might even be up for yet another adventure. The story offers encouragement to young readers who aren't as outgoing as others while demonstrating that sometimes individuals who aren't ordinarily brave can rise to the occasion when it's necessary. Rendered in ink and then colored in Photoshop, the illustrations are striking and vividly colored, and the artist has included several spot illustrations as well as full-page artwork and two attractive double-page spread. The text highlights the fears and concerns Little Cap has but also his growing confidence. Some images and text will prompt giggles since he exaggerates some of the physical challenges he faces during his search for Gustav, but in his mind, these are large obstacles.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author of “Sweety” does it again! “Gustav” is truly a “Tale of Friendship and Bravery”. Little Cap, a very fearful mushroom and Gustav, a more adventurous slug are besties and live together in their cozy little home – with the gate closed. One morning Little Cap wakes up and finds that his best friend is gone. Gasp! Somehow, he manages to pull it together and sets off to find his friend. After asking numerous animals near and far, hiking mountains and searching under rocks – even stepping in poo at one point-Gustav finds his friend in the slug colony snoozing on a rock. The two head for home but something is different. Now Little Cap isn’t as scared. He’s more willing to go out on the occasional adventure but always with his bestie, Gustav.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andre Zull's picture book tells the story of two friends Little Cap and Gustav. Their safe existence at home is threatened when Gustav decides to venture out when the front gate is left open. That causes Little Cap to have to find his courage and venture out into the world himself to find his friend. The story is a nice tale of how one friend faces his anxieties and becomes brave enough to start the search to find his friend. The reader will enjoy following Little Cap's journey to see if he is successful in finding Gustav. Talking bubbles present some of the text to make it more accessible. Cover and ending pages offer another chance for the reader to find Gustav. This is a good book to share with young readers as they try to find their courage to face things that make them nervous.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely shy and fearful mushroom gathers courage to face the world when its pet slug goes missing. A hilarious seek-and-find adventure ensues as the little shroom discovers that the scary world is actually quite interesting, even friendly. One worrisome question is posed by the “pet” slug’s collar and ID tag, which are symbols of servitude and ownership: Why is Gustav the only creature in this story without sovereignty and free agency to explore the world on its own or live with its own kind in the slug colony? Bold, colorful, illustrations are full of action and fascinating details that will enthrall readers of all ages.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet story of a boy whose pet goes missing. Although usually fearful, he summons his courage to find his friend. Humorously, but sincerely told. Some vocabulary may require explanation for young readers/listeners. E.g. highly suspect individuals, chaos, scaling a sheer cliff...

The boy in the tale is a mushroom, and the pet is a slug, adding to the playfulness and enjoyment. The illustrations provide whimsical expansion of the text.

SEL tie-in: overcoming fears, learning from new experiences.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite picture books, written by the same author is “Sweety” so when I saw a new picture book written by her, I was so excited!

This one did not disappoint with its adorable, illustrations, endearingly sweet characters, and a realistic storyline about anxiety, fear, bravery, and friendship! I could really relate to the main character, a Little Cap! I found this story very inspiring, and I would imagine there will be many young children that will feel braver about adventuring into the world after reading this book!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would ever think that a mushroom and a slug could be adorable? In the skillful hands of Andrea Zull, they are incredibly cute!

This is a charming and very funny story of fearful young mushroom who sets off to find his missing pet. It is an often perilous journey but of course, the little mushroom learns and grows along the way before triumphing.

Did I say adorable??? Kids will love this and I will never look at mushrooms and slugs in the same way.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful tale of loyalty, bravery, and adventure. The story is an age-old one of simeone aearching high and low for his trusty pal. But the book has a fresh feel and the illustrations, created in ink and colored in Photoshop, are simply marvelous.

I really enjoyed this book and would want to read more stories about these characters.

[Rayne Cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story about a mushroom called Little Cap facing the unknown to find his lost friend. This is a great book for readers who get a little nervous or shy or scared. We watch Little Cap grow brave and more assure of himself. The book touches on issues in a way that's easy for readers to connect with as well as understand. The illustrations are the icing on the cake!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overcoming fears to rescue a friend, good theme (though it's been done). But, are your children going to want their own pet mushroom now? How about the shy 'person' is a slug, and the 'pet' is an inchworm or ladybug? Too ridiculous for me, and would have been too ridiculous when I was a child, too, even though I was shy and could have, perhaps, benefited from the book.

[CONSTANCE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, what an adorable story with equally delightful illustrations. The subtitle is “A Tale of Friendship and Bravery”. The friendship is between Little Cap and his pet slug Gustav and the bravery comes in when said pet disappears and Little Cap must go out into the scary world to find him. Zuill has done other books and I will absolutely go find them.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the books with art and often the story by Zuill The artwork is so detailed and beautiful. Slugs look lovely when she paints them. It is a good story about loyalty of a friend who wants to be sure his friend is safe and will come home with him. He is brave--he doesn't really talk to others normally but he will do it for Gustav. A delightful story.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Cap (a mushroom) is braver than he thinks when he leaves his cozy home to look for his missing best friend Gustav (a slug). Loved his escapades and his realization that going out of his comfort zone gave him an enjoyable adventure.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
When Little Cap, who has many anxieties about the unknown, discovers that his best friend Gustav is missing, he ventures out on an adventure to find his friend, often ignoring or putting aside his own anxiety.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can you not love an extremely cute picture book about a mushroom boy and his pet slug? Gustav summons all his courage to leave his home and face the big world when Gustav goes missing. A nice message wrapped in adorableness.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful! Don't miss the endpapers and the verso as part of the story. Lovely illustration and a fun adventure. Reminds me in some ways of Clover by Nadine Robert. Another child on an adventure to save a friend and learning to be brave in the process. Wonderful home!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable.

Little Cap overcomes fear and shyness to find his lost friend, Gustav, than finds he actually enjoyed his adventure.

With the whimsical flavor of The Hobbit in quirky woodland form, Little Cap finds out just how bold he can be.

[Chantal Bourgonje · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous tale of Friendship and Bravery

When Gustav goes missing, shy Little Cap needs to bravely face the world to find his friend. Full of heart, full of humour, full of wisdom and beautifully illustrated, Gustav and Little Cap have captured my heart for sure.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Well-done story about how Little Cap overcomes his fears to find his friend Gustav. If you're looking for a title to encourage children or students to try new things, speak to others, or visit new places, check this one out.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the characters and amazing illustrations. The story message is fantastic but a bit disjointed at times.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it great story and message

[kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

gustav is sick for not leaving a note

[Renee MA · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the feel of a Ryan T. Higgins book, this is a delightful look at getting past fears for what really matters.

[Lisa]

So, so, cute with a cottagecore vibe that adults and kids will love. But also tells a story about coming out of your comfort zone and being brave for a friend.