Acosta, Alicia. Pumpkin and Me. Merce Gali, Illus. Translated from the Spanish by Laura Victoria Fielden. NubeOcho, 04/2022. [32]pp. Picture Book. GRADES: Preschool – 1. ADDITIONAL. Trade $15.99. 978-84-17673-92-5.
One day Pumpkin, a really old, very tired dog, passes away. While everyone is sad, the girl with a red dress (sketched outline, white face, and black hair) is really grief-stricken. She has a black cloud over her, she can’t stop crying (it feels like there’s soap in her eyes), and her chest hurts (like there’s an octopus wrapped tightly around her). The simple watercolor-and-pencil illustrations are sparse on details, which keeps the focus on the protagonist’s feelings and the advice her family gives. This helps her to gradually accept the death of Pumpkin by remembering the good times they’d shared. A useful story to offer to kids who are experiencing the loss of a pet or loved one.
Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library