Yuck, a Love Story
Written by: Don Gillmor
Illustrated by: Marie-Louise Gay
Recommended for ages 4-6.
$9.95 Stoddart Kids

Austin Grouper is a little boy with a wild imagination. One lovely day, a girl named Amy moves in next door. Austin thinks girls are yucky but ironically he spends a good part of his days trying to impress young Amy. On their first meeting, Austin neglects to tell Amy his name but rather spiels off fascinating facts about the Tyrannosaurus rex. As the days pass, Austin continues to wow Amy with his words and actions however when he is talking with his best friend Sternberg, he complains that all girls are awful and why do they have to exist at all? But then again, Amy is sooo cute with those tiny freckles on her nose and the red bows on her shoes. What is a boy to do? Why, bring her the moon of course. Follow Austin as he defies all odds to bring Amy the moon for her birthday.

In 2000, Marie-Louise Gay won the Governor General’s Literary Award for this jovial tale with her quirky watercolour illustrations.