Gus Gordon is an internationally acclaimed illustrator and author. He has illustrated and written over 80 books for children.

Gus’s stories are typically character orientated and appeal to both children and adults alike. His illustrations are known for their loose and energetic line work, mixed media and humour; however, collage is the medium he is widely recognised for. Much of his work contains old ephemeral paper items such as catalogue engravings, postcards, advertisements, receipts, stamps, theatre programs and maps.

His writing is always anthropomorphic – where animals take the place of humans in the narrative. He attributes this to an early love of Kenneth Grahame's Wind in The Willows and Richard Scarry’s 'Busy' stories. 

Gus’ books which include Wendy, Herman and Rosie (a 2013 CBCA 'Honour Award' for best picture book), Somewhere Else (2017 Speech Pathology book of the year), The Last Peach and Finding François have sold in over 20 countries worldwide and have received wide international recognition. He has been shortlisted for the German Youth Literature Award, the Sakura Medal in Japan, the Kirico book awards in Spain, the Les Incorruptibles prize in France, the Premio Anderson Children's Book awards in Italy and has twice been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, the world's largest award for children's and young adult literature. In 2023 he was a judge for the NSW Premier’s Literature Awards (Patricia Wrightson Prize).

Over the past 30 years, Gus has visited well over a thousand schools and festivals around Australia and internationally, speaking to children about illustration, writing, character design and visual literacy.

He also enjoys talking specifically about the process of writing and illustrating picture books, dispelling the illusions about their creation, believing that it is important for children to understand what happens behind the scenes so they can better appreciate how words and pictures work together to tell story.

Gus is about to finish his first graphic novel. Into the Bewilderness is an existential story about a bear called Luis and a mole called Pablo who live deep in the wilderness, far from culture and civility. It is due for a simultaneous release in Australia and the US in 2025.

Gus is represented by Charlie Olsen of InkWell Management in New York and is an ambassador for Room to Read and Storybox Library. Gus also loves cheese.