Peque y yo

May 27, 2022

PreS-Gr 2-A little girl struggles with the loss of her beloved dog in this heartfelt Spanish picture book. Peque is a very large and very old dog. When Peque passes away, the little girl and her family are overcome with sadness. Soon, strange things begin to happen to her. A dark cloud hangs over her head, her eyes sting and she can't keep back the tears, and her heart begins to feel so tight, she's sure an octopus is squeezing it. Her father, mother, and grandmother let her know it's okay to feel sadness and grief after losing someone she loves. She begins to remember all the happiness Peque brought to her life, and a lovely dream about Peque helps to push away the sadness. Exploring feelings that many readers might be familiar with, this beautiful story depicts loss and how children might feel when experiencing it, especially for the first time. Soft shades of pink and teal combine with sketchlike illustrations and descriptive, humorous, relatable text to portray the protagonist as she processes her feelings. VERDICT An excellent addition to Spanish picture book collections for children, and a solid choice for exploring loss and grief.-Selenia Paz

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