And They Walk On

A child remembers a late loved one in this emotionally centered picture book about the Indigenous concept of “walking on.” Contemplating where those who have walked on end up, the narrator wonders, “Did they go to the market to thump green melons and sail shopping carts in the sea of aisles?” A visit to the late figure’s home prompts further noticing: “Their things are still here as if they just stepped out: jacket by the door, hair in the brush.” But “when I close my eyes, I feel their heart in the hearth of the kitchen.” And a pot of warm grape dumplings and a mug of eucalyptus tea slowly summon the loved one’s presence. Maillard (Fry Bread), an enrolled member of the Seminole Nation, gently establishes the child’s feelings of loss and yearning before showing how the senses can help one travel into memory, and how, “when they walk on,” loved ones “stay with us like the glimmer of a distant star.” Digitally assembled acrylic, colored pencil, and watercolor illustrations from López (The Year We Learned to Fly) incorporate vibrant hues, soft textures, and Mexican and Seminole influences. Creators’ notes and a recipe for grape dumplings conclude. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Gillian MacKenzie, Gillian MacKenzie Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel, Full Circle Literary. (Oct.)