This book does a fantastic job of dealing with pet loss in a straightforward no nonsense way. It's a great resource for children who have suffered loss of any kind as the narrator deftly illustrates the feelings of grief in an approachable and age appropriate way. Highly recommend this book, and cannot wait to add it to our school's library collection.

This is a lovely story that deals with loss, grief and controlling emotions during this sad time. A little girl is the owner of a dog named Pumpkin. He is old and very tired. One day he looks at her, wags his tail, closes his eyes and dies. Everyone in the family is devastated.

Soon after strange things begin to happen to the little girl. A dark black cloud forms and hangs over her head. It hangs so low she can hardly lift up her chin. Her eyes begin to cry so vehemently that it feels she has soap in her eyes... and the worst feeling she experiences? She feels like an octopus has wrapped itself around her heart and squeezes so much it hurts. Oh my! What is happening to her?

Her mom, dad and grandma reassure her that those feelings are normal, although very painful, and they appear when you lose someone you love very much. The little girl listens to their consoling advice and things begin to change. She now focuses on how lucky she is to have had Pumpkin as her pet dog and she remembers all the good times they shared together. One night Pumpkin magically visits her in a dream and she comes to the realization that he will always be with her... in her memories and in her heart.

This book is a lovely way to discuss how to handle the emotions associated with the death of a dear loved one. The illustrations are simple and very kid-friendly. "Pumpkin and Me" will be very relatable if your child ( and your entire family ) have experienced the loss of a beloved pet family member. I love the book and highly recommend it.

Pumpkin and me is a story about a boy whose dog dies and the grief that follows his loss..
I think this book does a fantastic job helping kids to understanding feelings of sadness surrounding grief and I would recommend to anyone looking to help their child understand the love and loss of a beloved pet.

Pumpkin and Me is simple and sweet and tells a story of a young child processing the grief of losing her pet. I think they captured the child perspective very well and made the new, unnerving emotions and the way they describe their feelings easy to relate to for a young kiddo, or anyone really. I think this book is a great resource to have at home whether you are preparing for a death or possibly just lost a pet. I believe it will be a great comfort to your child.