When Peque, my dog, died, everyone at home was sad. The next day, a dark cloud began to follow me around and it felt like I had soap in my eyes and an octopus wrapped tightly around my heart... Written by the renowned child author and psychologist, Alicia Acosta, this uplifting, beautifully illustrated story explores themes of loss and grief and the power of memories. Cuando mi perro Peque murió, todos en casa nos pusimos tristes. Al día siguiente, una nube comenzó a seguirme a todos lados, me entró jabón en los ojos y un pulpo me agarró muy fuerte del corazón. De la renombrada autora infantil y psicóloga, Alicia Acosta. 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 An excellent addition to Spanish picture book collections for children, and a solid choice for exploring loss and grief. – School Library Journal  Using straightforward language to describe emotions commonly associated with death makes this story more relatable to children and reassures readers their feelings are normal and valid. – Children's Lit La pérdida de una mascota supone un momento muy doloroso. Los recuerdos y el cariño son de gran ayuda. Un libro poético y delicado para reconfortar. Alicia Acosta is a professional storyteller from Andalusia (Spain). She works with groups of children in schools and on behalf of government organizations, combining her background as a psychologist and her love of literature to promote a love of reading in children. Mercè Galí is an illustrator from Barcelona (Spain). She grew up surrounded by stories in her parents' bookstore. She studied illustration and Fine Arts at the University of Barcelona, specializing in engraving. She is mainly illustrates children's books and works with publishing houses in various different countries. Her books have been awarded best Toddler books at the Bologna Fair and her project ‘Petit Indi’ was a finalist in the Silent Book competition.