Walk with Me - by Jairo Buitrago (Paperback)

About the Book

A little girl imagines a lion taking the place of her father who no longer lives with her family, an animal that keeps her safe on her travels from school to home.

Book Synopsis

A simple, imaginative story depicting the complex emotional reality of a girl whose father no longer lives at home.

The girl conjures up an imaginary companion -- a lion -- who will join her on the long walk home from school. He will help her to pick up her baby brother from daycare and shop at the store (which has cut off the family's credit), and he'll keep her company all along the way until she is safely home. He will always come back when she needs him, unlike her father whom she sees only in a photograph -- a photograph in which he clearly resembles a lion.

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

Review Quotes

"Walk With Me" is refreshingly original, consistently entertaining, and very highly recommended.-- "Midwest Book Review"

Buitrago and Yockteng present a beautiful and complex story of courage and hope where there seems to be none.-- "Horn Book"

Emotionally resonant in the loveliest of ways.-- "Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW"

The duo behind Two White Rabbits returns with another compassionate portrait of a child negotiating difficult circumstances with grace.-- "Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW"

The richly colored, expressionistic multimedia illustrations add a great deal of depth to the minimal text.-- "Booklist"

With guided discussion, youngsters can see beyond the deceptive simplicity of this poignant story. A strong choice for all collections.-- "School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW"

About the Author

Jairo Buitrago is a children's book author who has collaborated with Rafael Yockteng on several award-winning picture books, including Jimmy the Greatest! (which received six starred reviews) and Two White Rabbits (which has received one starred review). Together, Jairo Buitrago and Rafael Yockteng have won the A la Orilla del Viento contest (Fondo de Cultura Económica de México), and their books have been included in IBBY's Honor List, Los mejores libros del año (Venezuela's Banco del Libro), Kirkus Best Books, the Horn Book Fanfare and the White Ravens Catalogue. He lives in Columbia.

Rafael Yockteng has illustrated many highly acclaimed children's books, including Sopa de frijoles / Bean Soup by Jorge Argueta (USBBY Outstanding International Books), and Jimmy the Greatest! (which received six starred reviews) and Two White Rabbits (which has received one starred review) by Jairo Buitrago. Together, Jairo Buitrago and Rafael Yockteng have won the A la Orilla del Viento contest (Fondo de Cultura Económica de México), and their books have been included in IBBY's Honor List, Los mejores libros del año (Venezuela's Banco del Libro), Kirkus Best Books, the Horn Book Fanfare and the White Ravens Catalogue. He lives in Columbia.