Gus Upstairs

By: Carey Sookocheff

Published by Owlkids Books Incorporated, 2026-02-17

A lonely puppy and his downstairs neighbor become friends through a mutual love of music

Lively puppy Gus has just moved into apartment 2A. After spending the weekend settling into his new home with the Lam family, Gus doesn't expect the fun to end ... until the Lams head off to school and work, leaving him all alone. But his loneliness lasts only as long as it takes Ms. Wilson's music to drift up from apartment 1A. Before long, Gus is howling along in his own form of harmony.

Over the week, Gus's howling distracts Ms. Wilson while she plays the piano, the violin, and the guitar. But whenever she puts down her instruments, Gus's howls turn into cries. This gives Ms. Wilson an idea. The next time the Lams leave in the morning, they don't leave Gus behind. Instead, they take him downstairs where Ms. Wilson and her piano are waiting for him. Together, they enjoy music (and each other's company) all day long!

This gentle story bridges the gap between generations and species with something universally understood--the magic of music.