• Age: 6 to 8
• Grade: 1 to 3
• Reading age: 6 to 8

This adorably illustrated picture book celebrates the love we have for books and the strength of friendship.

Raymond is a brave, strong and hairy buffalo. Gilbert is a quiet, growing and not-at-all hairy boy. Raymond is the hero of Gilbert's favorite book, and Gilbert brings his favorite book everywhere. When an unfortunate incident separates the two, Raymond finds himself in a very unusual situation—outside of his book and loose in the local library! There's nothing for Raymond to do but wait for Gilbert to come find him. But as the days turn into months and months into years, Raymond has to be brave and make a new home in the library shelves and a new friend in the librarian, Nicole.

????Lou Beauchesne is an author and illustrator of over twenty books for young readers, including La princess cowboy and La guerre des suces. She began writing and illustrating small books that she sold to her neighbors and has been doing this ever since. Lou writes and draws from her home in Quebec.

Lou Beauchesne's profile page

Kate Chappell is a freelance illustrator living and working from her home in Lincolnshire, UK. She graduated from Falmouth University with a degree in illustration in 2013 and uses a mix of traditional textures and digital techniques to create fun, dynamic characters and illustrations. Kate has created art for Google, Stella Artois, Nespresso, Dove and many others and tries to include elements of humor in her work whenever possible.

Kate Chappell's profile page

• Nominated, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Award
• Commended, BC Books for BC Schools

“With his wily eyes and endearing grin, plucky Raymond offers a lesson in enduring friendships, old and new. An unusual, touching adventure involving a book, a library, and a friend.”

Kirkus Reviews

“This endearingly awkward book has a good heart, and with its unconventional ­humor, will appeal to tender-hearted readers.”

School Library Journal