Somewhere Else, by Gus Gordon. Roaring Brook Press, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2017. $24.99 ages 4 and up

"This apple strudel makes
me think of Paris at night,
dear boy.
Come see it with me, George.
It's truly extraordinaire!"

"So sorry, Walter," said
George. "I'd love to come but
I've got a mountain of ironing
to do."

It's a known fact that most birds find somewhere else to be with the approach of winter. They want to be where the sun shines and keeps them warm. Gus Gordon suggests that some birds take the bus and some seek advice from an avian travel agency to ensure they end up in the perfect place.

George Laurent is not like those birds. He has no need to leave his home. He never goes anywhere, and for good reason:

"I like it here better than anywhere somewhere
else," he told himself. Besides, there was always   
something nice baking in the oven."

George loves to bake and his friends love to eat his baking. They also want him to do some travelling with them. He refuses all invitations. Winter makes its appearance and finds George alone. Well, not quite. There is Pascal Lombard, a burly bear who wishes he could be somewhere warm and wonders why George isn't; after all, he can fly!

George shares all that keeps him busy. Pascal has a rebuttal for every excuse. By the end of their conversation, George is ready to share his secret, and his fear. Pascal, it turns out, is adept at problem solving. Or not! Though they are both dismayed by their lack of success, they settle in to spend the day together. Reading provides a perfect aha! moment.

The ending is as perfect as the beginning and the middle! The artwork created using 'watercolor, pencil, crayon, and lots of beautiful paper (old and new) is cause for pause as you read. The collages feature maps, vintage photos, newspaper ads, fabric, constantly changing perspective and patterns. The journey through the book, from valise and suitcase filled endpapers front to back, is first-rate. The scenes are filled with detail that constantly attract attention and the backgrounds are inspiring.

Lively characters, noteworthy art, an invitation to venture beyond the familiar, and a love for the comfort of home make this a book I will happily read repeatedly.

And a tribute to Life of Pi on the back cover! Superb!