Remembering - by Xelena González (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Three starred reviews!
A Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book
A Chicago Public Library Best Book

A family remembers their beloved pet dog through the traditions of Día de Muertos in this "gorgeous, deeply touching exploration of grief and remembrance" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) from Pura Belpré Honor-winning team Xelena González and Adriana M. Garcia.

A child and their family observe the customs of Día de los Angelitos, one of the ritual celebrations of Día de Muertos, to celebrate the life of their beloved dog who passed away. They build a thoughtful ofrenda to help lead the pet's soul home and help the little one process their grief in this moving reminder that loved ones are never really gone if we take the time to remember them.

Review Quotes

★ "González employs a slightly melancholic tone, offering a stirring invocation of the power of healing alongside loved ones. Saturated mural-style illustrations by Garcia portray swirls moving around the family's home, where the four figures gaze at photographs of the dog that extend, like living memories, beyond their frames."
--Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

★ "Even the most cynical reader might find themselves choking back tears at the beautiful, plaintive text and the lush, realistic illustrations...A gorgeous, deeply touching exploration of grief and remembrance."

--Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

★ "The Pura Belpré award-winning team shares a new story about the deep, familiar pain of losing a pet and the natural, continuous circle of life and death...[H]auntingly beautiful text...[and] gorgeously illustrated...This poetic text with opulent illustrations is worthy of accolades."

--School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

"Remembering gives us a beautifully colorful place to celebrate all the special furry, winged, and four-legged friends that protect and bring joy to our homes. The poetic words and vibrant images inspire us readers to recall our own memories of little loved ones and give us the spark to build our own ofrendas of remembering."
--Zeke Peña, Pura Belpré Honor Illustrator of My Papi Has A Motorcycle "

Xelena and Adriana have created another gorgeous picture book that shows us how loss and life are part of the same circle. This is a beautiful reminder that the ones we love are forever in our hearts. Beautiful and moving."--Christina Soontornvat, three-time Newbery Honor author of The Last Mapmaker and A Wish in the Dark

About the Author

Xelena González is the author of the award-winning picture books All Around Us and Where Wonder Grows, as well as Remembering, all illustrated by longtime friend Adriana M. Garcia. She is a poet, storyteller, essayist, and creator of the curative card deck Lotería Remedios. Visit her at Xelena.Space.

Adriana M. Garcia is the Pura Belpré Award-winning illustrator of All Around Us, which was also an American Indian Youth Literature Honor, and Where Wonder Grows. She also illustrated The Turquoise Room by Monica Brown and Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor-winning Remembering by longtime friend and collaborator Xelena González. She lives in San Antonio, Texas, with her family. Visit her online AdrianaMJGarcia.com.