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2018 ALSC/ALA Notable Children's Book
An Iowa Public Radio Best Book of 2017

"Who says bucket lists are just for humans? Not the Klise sisters, who gracefully trace a girl's growing awareness of her dog's impending death. Evocative acrylics amplify the matter-of-fact narrative, showing Astrid growing taller and more active as Eli slows down. ...The Klises close with an image of girl and dog watching the sunset over the water, a moment that--like the book as a whole--is both emotionally restrained and full of feeling."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Quirky and delightful on its surface, this poignant picture book opens the door to deeper considerations of eventual loss. A tender tension between the author's ebullient text and her illustrator sister's touching acrylic paintings--particularly the exquisite portrayals of the two protagonists--delicately suggests the inevitable without any overt occurrence. The framed photos on the living-room walls and the apparent subject matter of the pair's library books (they're all about dogs) communicate even more about the special relationship between a child and a dog, and the precious value of taking care of the ones you love."--The Horn Book, starred review

"The full-page, warm, pastel-colored illustrations perfectly match the text and make the book all the more wonderful. This is a story about making the best of and appreciating the (brief) time we have with our loved ones--in this case our pets, though the title easily applies to grandparents and other aging loved ones. ... A sweet and moving selection about the bond between a girl and her aging dog that avoids veering into sappy or maudlin territory. Spoiler alert: the dog does NOT die in the end (THANK YOU!)."--School Library Journal