{"id":8867665707245,"title":"Popo the Xolo","handle":"popo-the-xolo","description":"\u003ch6\u003eComing August 19, 2025. Pre-order today!\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/paloma-lopez\"\u003ePaloma Lopez\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/abraham-matias\"\u003eAbraham Matias\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWe can always remember her.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNana is surrounded by family and takes joy in her many grandchildren. She's also tired and feels pain. Soon she begins her transition from life into death, accompanied by her beloved Xolo dog, Popo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTogether they go on Nana’s journey, and by the end of the story, Nana's family celebrates the many years of love they shared with her. A grandchild takes on caring for Popo in Nana's memory. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSimultaneously published in English and Spanish, \u003cem\u003ePopo the Xolo\u003c\/em\u003e helps kids understand how loved ones live on in our memories. An unforgettable picture book that's grounded in the importance of the 9 levels of Mictlān and the role Xolo dogs play in Indigenous cultural understandings of present-day Mexico.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e\"Gently magnificent.\" —\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review \u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ten-beautiful-things\"\u003eTen Beautiful Things\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/squawk-of-spanish\"\u003eSquawk of Spanish\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n[TABS] \n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/popo-the-xolo-spread.jpg?v=1731092503\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/popo-the-xolo-cover.jpg?v=1731092502\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/popo-the-xolo-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1731092508\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaloma Lopez, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaloma Angelina Lopez is a mother, student, and creative living in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She is a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico. Her maternal grandmother’s family comes from Jalisco and Guanajuato and her father’s family is from Zacatecas and Sinaloa. Paloma married into a Cherokee family that is heavily involved in language and culture, and she works as a full-time Cherokee language learner. She hopes to become an educator and author in the Cherokee language. This is her debut children’s book. She hopes to publish more children’s literature inspired by her culture and upbringing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/paloma-lopez\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Paloma.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbraham Matias, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbraham Matias is an illustrator, designer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. He spent his childhood in Mexico making his own toys and miniature sets and drawing stories. Abraham works with paper-cut puppets staged and photographed inside a toy theater to create 3D, handcrafted, dreamlike scenes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/abraham-matias\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Abraham.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews,\u003c\/i\u003e starred review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn abuela crosses from life to death with the help of her loyal pooch.\u003cbr\u003ePopo, a Xoloitzcuintle (a Mexican hairless dog with great significance in many Indigenous cultures), spends his evenings sitting on Nana’s lap as she watches her novelas, soothing her aches with his tiny, warm body. Nana spends her days cooking, cleaning the floors, and tending to her familia. One night, Nana sits on her comfy chair for the last time; accompanied by Popo, she soon steps into the Aztec underworld, Mictlān, where the dead must journey across nine levels to reach eternal rest. Rich in otherworldly blends of purples, pinks, and sun-kissed hues, Matias’ striking paper-cut artwork depicts Nana’s passing in a series of stunning double-page spreads, softening the heavy subject matter. Lopez’s gentle text pulls at the heartstrings in subtle streaks, punctuated by the phrase “Keep going. ¡VÁMONOS!,” accompanying Popo’s barks of encouragement to his beloved owner. Nana wades through a river, climbs hills, glides across an obsidian path, battles snowy winds, evades arrow-throwing monkeys, and more as she recalls memories both good and bad. Her journey ends back at her casita, where her familia holds on to their shared remembrances. Nana now moves on (“Her aches have disappeared”), and Popo remains with her familia. Lopez deftly lands on a bittersweet note, a message of love that transcends life and death.\u003cbr\u003eGently magnificent. (information on the nine levels of Mictlān and on the Xoloitzcuintle, a note on loss, glossary)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNana loves her family and her beloved dog, Popo. In the evenings, Popo keeps Nana warm as she settles down to watch her favorite telenovelas. This evening, Nana is tired and falls asleep. She wakes and finds herself crossing a river, Popo leading the way. Nana is tired and it is difficult as she and Popo continue their journey, passing through mountains, stone paths, snow, and more, but with each step Nana begins to feel stronger. Popo barks encouragement, tugging at Nana’s skirt. When Nana and Popo arrive home, she no longer feels pain, and Nana feels the love of her family, and the love they have for Popo. This lovely picture book shares a family's love for their beloved nana, and her journey as she passes away, traveling through the levels of Mictlān with her important guide, a xoloitzcuintle dog. Text and illustrations show the obstacles Nana faces, with vibrant, luminous colors bringing to life this otherworldy place, and paper cut-out art making the ¬characters seems so much closer to readers. The text in both the English and Spanish ¬versions shows character dialogue in speech bubbles, with page text describing Nana’s activities, her love for her family, and the levels of Mictlān. A touching depiction of this important belief in the afterlife, as well as a reminder of the good it does to keep loved ones alive through ¬memory. ¬VERDICT This picture book focusing on the passing of a loved one and their journey through Mictlān is an excellent addition to children’s picture book collections, and a solid choice to discuss loss and to share on Day of the Dead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n \u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eIn this heartfelt story about death, grief, and legacy grounded in Indigenous Mexican culture, Nana and her beloved dog, Popo, are nearly inseparable. Whether Nana is cooking frijoles, sweeping the floors, or enjoying her evening telenovelas, Popo is by her side. As a xolo (pronounced SHOH-loh) dog, he is Nana's protector and companion, especially essential roles one night when Nana begins an arduous journey, which the reader understands as her transition to the afterlife. With repeated refrains of “Vamonos!” Popo guides Nana through a fierce snowstorm, across slick obsidian paths, and through forests filled with monkeys slinging sharp arrows. Eventually, the pair reaches Nana’s home once more, ending the journey, signifying the cyclical nature of life and death. Though Nana’s family mourns her loss, her memory brings them comfort, and now that Nana no longer needs Popo to warm her lap, her children and grandchildren care for him. Lopez’s evocative text, which incorporates occasional Spanish, is the perfect match for Matias’s illustrations, mixed media scenes featuring yarn and cut paper, which provide a sense of depth and perspective. The contrast of darkness and light mirrors the narrative. When Nana returns home at her journey’s end, her peaceful figure fills the page, enveloping the family in a warm glow. Backmatter includes a pronunciation guide, information about the xolo dog breed and their role in Indigenous Mexican cultures, as well as a guide to the nine levels of Mictlan, which one must pass through to reach the afterlife. Though death is a serious subject, this thoughtful picture book portrays the process as natural rather than fearful, making this a valuable text for bibliotherapy, as a conversation-starter with a child who has recently experienced a loss, or in an elementary classroom unit on how different cultures perceive death and the afterlife. Highly recommended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEnglish Hardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-457-7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpanish Hardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-458-4\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 6–9\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 40\u003cbr\u003e10 x 8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication date: August 19, 2025\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[\/TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n","published_at":"2025-01-14T16:18:11-05:00","created_at":"2024-11-12T08:31:54-05:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Fiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Animals \u0026 Dinosaurs","Browse by Subject_Life Lessons \u0026 Skills","Browse by Subject_Social Studies\/Cultures"],"price":1799,"price_min":1799,"price_max":1799,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":47340198822125,"title":"English Hardcover","option1":"English Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"44577","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":42118471155949,"product_id":8867665707245,"position":1,"created_at":"2024-11-08T14:01:40-05:00","updated_at":"2025-01-15T09:38:47-05:00","alt":null,"width":600,"height":485,"src":"\/\/storytellingmath.org\/cdn\/shop\/files\/popo-the-xolo-cover.jpg?v=1736951927","variant_ids":[47340198822125]},"available":true,"name":"Popo the Xolo - English Hardcover","public_title":"English Hardcover","options":["English Hardcover"],"price":1799,"weight":567,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":1,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"9781623544577","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":34547323076845,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.237,"height":485,"width":600,"src":"\/\/storytellingmath.org\/cdn\/shop\/files\/popo-the-xolo-cover.jpg?v=1736951927"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]},{"id":47340253774061,"title":"Spanish Hardcover","option1":"Spanish Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"44584","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":42628904812781,"product_id":8867665707245,"position":2,"created_at":"2024-11-12T08:53:06-05:00","updated_at":"2025-01-15T09:38:47-05:00","alt":null,"width":600,"height":484,"src":"\/\/storytellingmath.org\/cdn\/shop\/files\/popo-el-xolo-cover.jpg?v=1736951927","variant_ids":[47340253774061]},"available":true,"name":"Popo the Xolo - Spanish Hardcover","public_title":"Spanish Hardcover","options":["Spanish Hardcover"],"price":1799,"weight":567,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":10,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"9781623544584","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":34569112453357,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.24,"height":484,"width":600,"src":"\/\/storytellingmath.org\/cdn\/shop\/files\/popo-el-xolo-cover.jpg?v=1736951927"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/storytellingmath.org\/cdn\/shop\/files\/popo-the-xolo-cover.jpg?v=1736951927","\/\/storytellingmath.org\/cdn\/shop\/files\/popo-el-xolo-cover.jpg?v=1736951927"],"featured_image":"\/\/storytellingmath.org\/cdn\/shop\/files\/popo-the-xolo-cover.jpg?v=1736951927","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":34547323076845,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.237,"height":485,"width":600,"src":"\/\/storytellingmath.org\/cdn\/shop\/files\/popo-the-xolo-cover.jpg?v=1736951927"},"aspect_ratio":1.237,"height":485,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/storytellingmath.org\/cdn\/shop\/files\/popo-the-xolo-cover.jpg?v=1736951927","width":600},{"alt":null,"id":34569112453357,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.24,"height":484,"width":600,"src":"\/\/storytellingmath.org\/cdn\/shop\/files\/popo-el-xolo-cover.jpg?v=1736951927"},"aspect_ratio":1.24,"height":484,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/storytellingmath.org\/cdn\/shop\/files\/popo-el-xolo-cover.jpg?v=1736951927","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003ch6\u003eComing August 19, 2025. Pre-order today!\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/paloma-lopez\"\u003ePaloma Lopez\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/abraham-matias\"\u003eAbraham Matias\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWe can always remember her.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNana is surrounded by family and takes joy in her many grandchildren. She's also tired and feels pain. Soon she begins her transition from life into death, accompanied by her beloved Xolo dog, Popo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTogether they go on Nana’s journey, and by the end of the story, Nana's family celebrates the many years of love they shared with her. A grandchild takes on caring for Popo in Nana's memory. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSimultaneously published in English and Spanish, \u003cem\u003ePopo the Xolo\u003c\/em\u003e helps kids understand how loved ones live on in our memories. An unforgettable picture book that's grounded in the importance of the 9 levels of Mictlān and the role Xolo dogs play in Indigenous cultural understandings of present-day Mexico.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e\"Gently magnificent.\" —\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review \u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ten-beautiful-things\"\u003eTen Beautiful Things\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/squawk-of-spanish\"\u003eSquawk of Spanish\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n[TABS] \n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/popo-the-xolo-spread.jpg?v=1731092503\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/popo-the-xolo-cover.jpg?v=1731092502\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/popo-the-xolo-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1731092508\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaloma Lopez, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaloma Angelina Lopez is a mother, student, and creative living in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She is a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico. Her maternal grandmother’s family comes from Jalisco and Guanajuato and her father’s family is from Zacatecas and Sinaloa. Paloma married into a Cherokee family that is heavily involved in language and culture, and she works as a full-time Cherokee language learner. She hopes to become an educator and author in the Cherokee language. This is her debut children’s book. She hopes to publish more children’s literature inspired by her culture and upbringing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/paloma-lopez\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Paloma.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbraham Matias, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbraham Matias is an illustrator, designer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. He spent his childhood in Mexico making his own toys and miniature sets and drawing stories. Abraham works with paper-cut puppets staged and photographed inside a toy theater to create 3D, handcrafted, dreamlike scenes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/abraham-matias\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Abraham.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews,\u003c\/i\u003e starred review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn abuela crosses from life to death with the help of her loyal pooch.\u003cbr\u003ePopo, a Xoloitzcuintle (a Mexican hairless dog with great significance in many Indigenous cultures), spends his evenings sitting on Nana’s lap as she watches her novelas, soothing her aches with his tiny, warm body. Nana spends her days cooking, cleaning the floors, and tending to her familia. One night, Nana sits on her comfy chair for the last time; accompanied by Popo, she soon steps into the Aztec underworld, Mictlān, where the dead must journey across nine levels to reach eternal rest. Rich in otherworldly blends of purples, pinks, and sun-kissed hues, Matias’ striking paper-cut artwork depicts Nana’s passing in a series of stunning double-page spreads, softening the heavy subject matter. Lopez’s gentle text pulls at the heartstrings in subtle streaks, punctuated by the phrase “Keep going. ¡VÁMONOS!,” accompanying Popo’s barks of encouragement to his beloved owner. Nana wades through a river, climbs hills, glides across an obsidian path, battles snowy winds, evades arrow-throwing monkeys, and more as she recalls memories both good and bad. Her journey ends back at her casita, where her familia holds on to their shared remembrances. Nana now moves on (“Her aches have disappeared”), and Popo remains with her familia. Lopez deftly lands on a bittersweet note, a message of love that transcends life and death.\u003cbr\u003eGently magnificent. (information on the nine levels of Mictlān and on the Xoloitzcuintle, a note on loss, glossary)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNana loves her family and her beloved dog, Popo. In the evenings, Popo keeps Nana warm as she settles down to watch her favorite telenovelas. This evening, Nana is tired and falls asleep. She wakes and finds herself crossing a river, Popo leading the way. Nana is tired and it is difficult as she and Popo continue their journey, passing through mountains, stone paths, snow, and more, but with each step Nana begins to feel stronger. Popo barks encouragement, tugging at Nana’s skirt. When Nana and Popo arrive home, she no longer feels pain, and Nana feels the love of her family, and the love they have for Popo. This lovely picture book shares a family's love for their beloved nana, and her journey as she passes away, traveling through the levels of Mictlān with her important guide, a xoloitzcuintle dog. Text and illustrations show the obstacles Nana faces, with vibrant, luminous colors bringing to life this otherworldy place, and paper cut-out art making the ¬characters seems so much closer to readers. The text in both the English and Spanish ¬versions shows character dialogue in speech bubbles, with page text describing Nana’s activities, her love for her family, and the levels of Mictlān. A touching depiction of this important belief in the afterlife, as well as a reminder of the good it does to keep loved ones alive through ¬memory. ¬VERDICT This picture book focusing on the passing of a loved one and their journey through Mictlān is an excellent addition to children’s picture book collections, and a solid choice to discuss loss and to share on Day of the Dead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n \u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eIn this heartfelt story about death, grief, and legacy grounded in Indigenous Mexican culture, Nana and her beloved dog, Popo, are nearly inseparable. Whether Nana is cooking frijoles, sweeping the floors, or enjoying her evening telenovelas, Popo is by her side. As a xolo (pronounced SHOH-loh) dog, he is Nana's protector and companion, especially essential roles one night when Nana begins an arduous journey, which the reader understands as her transition to the afterlife. With repeated refrains of “Vamonos!” Popo guides Nana through a fierce snowstorm, across slick obsidian paths, and through forests filled with monkeys slinging sharp arrows. Eventually, the pair reaches Nana’s home once more, ending the journey, signifying the cyclical nature of life and death. Though Nana’s family mourns her loss, her memory brings them comfort, and now that Nana no longer needs Popo to warm her lap, her children and grandchildren care for him. Lopez’s evocative text, which incorporates occasional Spanish, is the perfect match for Matias’s illustrations, mixed media scenes featuring yarn and cut paper, which provide a sense of depth and perspective. The contrast of darkness and light mirrors the narrative. When Nana returns home at her journey’s end, her peaceful figure fills the page, enveloping the family in a warm glow. Backmatter includes a pronunciation guide, information about the xolo dog breed and their role in Indigenous Mexican cultures, as well as a guide to the nine levels of Mictlan, which one must pass through to reach the afterlife. Though death is a serious subject, this thoughtful picture book portrays the process as natural rather than fearful, making this a valuable text for bibliotherapy, as a conversation-starter with a child who has recently experienced a loss, or in an elementary classroom unit on how different cultures perceive death and the afterlife. Highly recommended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEnglish Hardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-457-7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpanish Hardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-458-4\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 6–9\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 40\u003cbr\u003e10 x 8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication date: August 19, 2025\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[\/TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n"}