This is one of those books that you only recommend when it’s asked for. Angus was a loving family pet. That is until Angus died. Our main child still feels and sees Angus as they work through the grief of Angus passing. The story is lovely, and does its job, but it’s not one you want to try it out for general reading.

Oof. OOF. I have a habit of reading pet loss books out loud, as therapy (they force me to cry, and that feels very good). And this one. THIS ONE not only made ME cry, but made my husband cry, as well! So, this one really gets the process of grief, and it will give you grief, as well.

Which is good! Pet loss is HARD for kids. And this one covers an two aspects of loss that I’ve not seen much before: the acclimatizing and the forgetting. At first, the main character sees so many reminders of Angus: his bowl, his bed, even falsely seeing him out of the corner of his eyes. But they become less common, until one day the MC realizes Angus has been gone so long that he’s used to not having the dog. And he’s started to forget little bits of him.

I loved this book, and returned to it for a second good cry. I think it would be very helpful for elementary-aged kids who are facing the loss of a pet. It shows the whole process of grief, and does so in a manner that will resonate perfectly with younger readers.

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

I received an electronic ARC from Annick Press Ltd. through NetGalley.
There were tears in my eyes as I read this one. Readers will feel Angus presence as the young boy narrates this story. It's a beautiful way to help readers understand a pet's death and how it continues to feel like they are with them. The illustrations capture the energy and emotions swirling for this family as they grieve and heal. Dyer has a sensitive touch to support her characters and readers.

Angus is Here deals with the difficulty of losing a pet. The book is trying to keep the memory of Angus alive by remembering the happy times. While this is an important issue that comes up in the life of a child, I felt that some of the vagueness of the book may be difficult for younger kids to understand.

I enjoyed reading this book, and I think that it could be very important for children, when often the first time they are faced with death and grief is with the loss of a pet. I enjoy that this depicts how the loss of a pet can be challenging for a child, and that it is important to preserve memories.

This may be a helpful book for a parent to read with a young child dealing with the death of a pet. It focuses on a young boy mourning the loss of his dog, Angus. Initially, he feels Angus around him: under the table at supper, at the end of his bed at night. His sister finds the boy’s behaviour weird. (I honestly can’t imagine allowing an older sibling to respond a distressed younger sibling in the way this girl does.)

The family apparently buried Angus “in a sunny spot”, yet the illustration shows the grave under a tree. No one who gardens would ever think of burying a larger animal in such a spot. There are tree roots to contend with. The family has planted seeds over the grave, but it seems to me there’s no guarantee they’ll get sufficient light when the leaves open in the spring.

There’s initially a kind of coldness to this book. What redeems it somewhat is the father telling stories about Angus. Eventually the family makes a book about the dog that the young boy can look through.

It’s unclear how much time has elapsed when the mother suggests that Angus’s things should be given to a relative with a new puppy. Frankly, I found it all a bit heartless and chilly. Even the older sister cries at the thought of Angus’s things being gone.

In time, Dyer shows, the young boy feels Angus’s presence less and is able to engage with life without always thinking of his dog.

I greatly disliked the comic book illustrations. Yes, they’re serviceable enough and basically go with the text. Nothing more.

As mentioned, some may find this helpful, but there are much better books out there.

Just average.

2.5 stars rounded down

Rip my heart out, why don't you...

I love going into books blind and this time was no different, so imagine when what I thought would be a light and fun children's book was FAR from light and fun. Halfway through I went to read the synopsis and finally realised that this is actually a book about grief and loss 🥲 Not that I'm complaining, as you can see from my 5 stars.

As a pet owner myself, I could totally relate to every page and echo the exact same sentiments. Reading this was such a comfort and it's definitely a book that I will come back to when I'm grieving. It's also an excellent resource for helping kids to navigate similar difficult and complicated feelings.

Now I feel like sobbing and hugging my pets close forever.

This book is for anyone who breathes. It is simple, straight-forward and honest. Heartbreaking and healing.

Someday, someone we love will stop breathing. Quite often, when that someone is a dog, the world at large does not respect the grieving process. Or the mourner. The person who has just lost a beloved family member is told to get over it, it’s just a dog.

This book honors both the person grieving and the one lost.

A beautiful, important book. Definitely recommended.


#NetGalley, #AngusIsHere, #AnnickPress, #HadleyDyer
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of the book.

A fresh, moving look at grief--this story nearly had me in tears. When a young child loses his dog, Angus, he still feels Angus's presence everywhere. As the child learns to grieve and let go, he also learns that in the most important ways Angus will always be with him. This is a beautifully written story that both children and adults will enjoy.

This picture book is perfect for kids who have lost a pet and are struggling to accept the permanence of death. The gentle illustrations and comforting story show how the child misses his dog, remembers their routines, and sometimes feels like he could turn around and find him there. The child struggles to believe that Angus is really gone and won't come back, and although this book will be too sad for kids who don't need it, it is a wonderful, reassuring choice for children who are reeling from the loss of a special family pet.

In this story about grief, an unnamed child main character (MC) proclaims on the first page, “Angus is here. Angus is our dog.” The dog, however, is noticeably absent. The MC looks for Angus everywhere and tries to coax the dog out of hiding, while sister Molly accuses the MC of “being weird.” The MC’s parents gently remind them what death means, and suggest they take Angus’ old things to a family member with a new puppy. This sparks grief in Molly who finally drops her stoic outer shell. Together, they try to figure out a way to keep Angus from fading away.

This book takes a relatable problem (the loss of a dog) and explores quiet grief and the idea of suffering in silence. The illustrations mirror the text, presenting everything softly in muted tones with only Angus’ belongings presented in sharp green. We’re left with a sense that if those bright green objects were no longer present, much of the colour in this world would be stripped away.

Though a little long, the story keeps pulling the reader back in through heart-wrenching scenes we are never quite prepared for. Between the MC demanding for Angus to “come” and Molly suddenly appearing in tears, we are reminded that grief hits us in waves.

The characters in this story all present white, cis, straight, and able-bodied, though these characteristics are not explicitly stated.

A must-have addition to school and library shelves.

Reviewed digitally via NetGalley.

This book perfectly describes the absence losing a pet leaves in your life. It would be a great way to teach children about grief regarding any loved one and the importance of acknowledging it and remembering them to bring you comfort. Definitely had me crying as someone who’s gone through this recently, and I could definitely relate to the narrator when he kept expecting to see and hear Angus around the house.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC!

While this book deals with a difficult subject it brings up ideas like ghosts that might scare young children already dealing with loss. While the author’s ideas are lovely, the art work is more subdued matching the theme of the book.

Thank you Annick Press for allowing me to read this book via Netgalley.

WOW! What a great book! My eyes are still wet from the tears that came down as I read this beautifully written and illustrated book! As a clinical psychologist working with kids and families, this is a book that I will use and recommend to families. It is a beautifully written story about a boy/family who loses their beloved pet. It teaches about death and grieving and done so in a way that isn't didactic. It is tender and sensitive with all the right advice I would give my patients. The illustrations are soft and so appropriate for this book. Perfect for the loss of a pet or person or any other loss a child may experience. If I could give it higher than 5 stars I would. Bravo to the author and illustrator!

Angus is Here is a beautifully written book which helps teach children about death and grieving. In the story, a young boy deals with death, grieving, memories, and continuing on as he mourns the death of his beloved dog. Death is a difficult subject to discuss with children. This book handles it exceptionally well and would make a wonderful aide in teaching children about death and how to handle their feelings of confusion, sadness, and loss.

My thanks to Annick Press for permitting me to read an ARC of this book via NetGalley. The book is set to be published 7/11/23. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and were given freely.

ANGUS IS HERE is a beautiful book to read. Children will learn how to talk about and work through grief. This book can guide families when a loved one passes away. The illustrations help the reader know that ANGUS IS HERE even when the main character is sad or lonely. 5 STARS, and many thanks to NetGalley & Annick Press for the early read.