BEST FRIENDS FOREVER

A young girl experiences the love and loss of a pet Dachshund in Clare’s debut picture book.

Scoopie has just turned 4, and her Daddy asks if she’d like a “boy” or “girl” puppy. Scoopie gets a female dog and names her Sandy; she’s surprised that the canine is “LONG like a hot dog.” Scoopie considers the pet her sister and friend. After the girl and her parents move to Washington, D.C., via plane, a veterinarian diagnoses Sandy with epilepsy, triggered by the airplane ride. Still, Sandy’s still able to play, eat, and nap with Scoopie. But at Grandmommy’s home, Sandy has a seizure, followed by more fits. Daddy tells Scoopie that Sandy won’t get better; Scoopie cries, and overnight, the dog dies in the family’s kitchen. The girl misses her for years until she feels ready for a new puppy on her 10th birthday. Clare effectively conveys messages of grief and resilience in this tale. However, some readers may find it too sad, as Sandy’s epilepsy and death overpower the happy times; certainly, the story could distress children whose pets are about to board planes. Still, youngsters currently coping with pets’ medical conditions may relate to the narrative. Alderson’s full-color pastel illustrations, which portray Scoopie and her family as Black, feature several floral scenes.

A sad, realistic story about a pet’s epilepsy and death.