Oh my gosh, this book is beautiful. ♥

We follow the story of beloved Nana who, after she dies, must travel to Mictlán with her ever faithful dog Popo. Despite the long journey, Popo pushes her on through a variation on what Indigenous Mexicans believe to be the nine levels of the journey to the afterlife. With gorgeous, heartfelt illustrations, we follow Nana and Popo through rivers, mountains, snow, and wind. When she finally makes it back to her home, she knows that although her family is mourning her loss, they'll always remember her and treasure what she loved -- including her beloved Popo.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a heartfelt little read. As someone who is Latinx, I loved seeing myself represented in a story that talked about grief and death. From the frijoles on the stove to the smell of Fabuloso in the air. The illustrations were so well done, and you could spend a good amount of time just admiring the detail in each one.

Thank you Charlesbridge and Netgalley for the eARC, all thoughts are my own.

This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. The pictures were stunning, and I found myself going back and forth to admire particular pages. The story itself is about family and death and grief, but it's also hopeful and full of love.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Popo the Xolo was an absolutely beautiful story with beautifully well done illustrations. What a wonderful treat this book was and it's such a needed addition to the world of picture books. I loved it and I will definitely be picking up copies of this and recommending it to everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Paloma Angelina Lopez for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

As a former Spanish teacher, this culture-filled children’s book warmed my heart! I loved seeing Nana go through the 9 levels of Mietlan and seeing her family celebrating her life on the other side. While I know some about particular Spanish cultures, this book taught me more about things that I had never seen! I loved the sprinkling of Spanish words throughout the text and truly hope to add this one to my personal library once I have kids! What a great way to help kids see different understandings of grief and passing.

Netgalley ARC - this is absolutely fantastic and I think it would be an important addition to any picture book collection! I think it is sensitive and vibrant and beautiful. The art and language is perfect.

I love that there are so many great picture books that handle tough topics like death and grief, and Popo the Xolo absolutely falls within that class. This is such a fantastic story of Nana journeying through Mictlan and seeing her family’s love for her. The art for this book is so beautiful and I couldn’t help but to stay on each page just to absorb all the detail and texture. I really loved this book and the message it had.