And They Walk On

by Kevin Maillard, Rafael López (illustrator)

A boy says farewell to a loved one as he imagines her walking on into her next journey, a moving and superbly illustrated story about loss and hope by Fry Bread author Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by acclaimed, award-winning artist Rafael López.

When a young boy’s grandmother walks on, he wonders where she’s gone.

Did she go to the market to buy ripe melons? Or maybe she’s in the garden, watering her herbs?

It feels like she’s somewhere far away, so the boy finds new ways to share stories about his day, hoping she can hear him.

Even her house feels like it’s waiting for her return. Then as the boy approaches the kitchen, the scent and memories of her cooking assure him that no matter where she is, her love will always be close by.

Because when someone walks on, they stay with us. They grow in our hearts and guide us as we walk in their footsteps.

Award-winning author of Fry Bread, Kevin Noble Maillard, breathes life and love into this intimate picture book about loss, with illustrations from renowned, best-selling artist, Rafael López.

Genres: Picture Books, Death, Native American, Grief, Childrens, Family, Emotion

40 pages, Hardcover

Published October 14, 2025

Reviews

[Grandma Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exploration of grief. Part of the story was about what is my loved one doing now. The bigger focus was the memories we have to cherish those who have passed. I loved the positive focus. Outstanding narrator.

I was blessed with an ARC. Thank you NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased,

This is a review of the audiobook.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Because when someone walks on, they stay with us. They grow in our hearts, and we walk in their footsteps."

And They Walk On is a powerful and heartfelt children’s book by Kevin Maillard, beautifully illustrated by Rafael Lopez, that thoughtfully explores the themes of loss and grief. Drawing from his personal experience with the death of his mother, Maillard offers a raw and vulnerable perspective that resonates deeply. His author’s note introduces readers to Indigenous cultural beliefs in the United States, including the meaning behind the phrase “walked on,” while Lopez shares his own heritage and experiences with Mexico’s Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead).

The stunning, evocative illustrations enhance the emotional depth and beauty of the story, blending cultural traditions in a way that honors those who have “walked on.” Together, author and illustrator create a meaningful tribute to memory and healing.

This book is essential for families navigating the difficult journey of loss. Maillard captures the complex emotions of missing a loved one with grace and sensitivity—an especially challenging topic to address in a children’s book, yet handled with remarkable care. As an adult also coping with grief, I found myself deeply moved by the narrative, reminiscent of the emotional impact of the film Coco.

I highly recommend And They Walk On and rate it a full five out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lovely, meaningful picture book may be the first time I've encountered the idea of someone walking on, an indigenous concept on death. It is a lovely, comforting one, and while the phrase may not be as familiar to others as others such as dying, passing, etc., the experiences of loss and grief will be. The narrator, a young boy who is mourning the death of his grandmother, wonders exactly where someone goes when they walk on. He considers that they might possibly be at market, in the garden, fishing or even running late. As his parents go about packing up some of what's left behind, including her pots and pans and cooking utensils, the boy marvels at what's still there: "Their things are still here / as if they just stepped out: / jacket by the door, / hair in the brush, / starlight mints by the bed, / shoes on the floor" (unpaged). As he recollects the delicious meals he once ate in that kitchen, he feels joy and realizes that anyone who has walked on is still with those left behind, through their memories of shared moments and experiences. While the subject matter of this picture book may be sad, there is a joyousness and acceptance in the text and illustrations that offsets that particular emotion. With those striking pages of artwork, created with acrylics, watercolor, and colored pencils, and consisting of significant images, including ears of corn, tattoos, a whale, paper boats with words, a stream, flower petals, butterflies, and family unity as generations walk on together, this impressive book may provide comfort to youngsters as well as some of their older family members.

[June Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death is a tough topic. I have to admit to being wary of requesting this one to review. Do you remember how death was explained to you as a child? I must have been told something about going to sleep and just not waking up because I recall being afraid of going to sleep for some time. A well meaning, softly handled explanation but one just never knows how a child's mind will process such a complicated event, especially since the sadness about them is hardly comforting.

This book offers a means to open a dialogue. It's a mix of another, more hopeful, cultural approach to broaching the topic with children. To be simplistic, its focus is on a bit of a combo of a native beliefs that see death as another step in life. You walk on after death. It's vague, yes, but helps a child envision the concept of them still being with us, just not visible. I thought of the Disney movie "Coco", in fact, as I thought about this one, so the Hispanic concept of the Day of the Dead played into my interpretation of the text. It gave me a focus, that death can be a celebration, too, not just sad. The tone is a mix of sadness and, yes, hopefulness, reminding us that as long as our memories last, no one is truly gone. They live on. The lovely illustrations by Rafael Lopez match the tone. They offer a mix of colors and motion in a somewhat subdued color palette. Pay attention to the colors and designs/patterns, too, as they contribute to the theme.

I particularly liked that the author doesn't present the material as the ultimate, "this is it answer". He's obviously still searching, too, and it's very obvious how much he took this topic to heart in the sections at the end. The book can, however, present an avenue to discussion, perhaps ensuring we no longer frighten our young children about going to sleep at night after tackling the topic of death. There's even a recipe, a subtle reminder that memories keep us alive, often through no more than a taste or smell. Thanks #MacmillanChild'sPublishingGroup and #NetGalley for making this available to me early. It certainly served to stir some memories and, yes, bring a smile to my face as a result.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

This high-quality audiobook production has a full musical soundtrack and includes background noises like water running or the sounds of boats or people walking. These sounds run as a soundtrack under the narrators voice. The sounds don't in anyway distract from the story and in many ways the background noises work to enhance and enliven the text. This is narrated by the author Kevin Maillard. Kevin's voice is sweet and soothing.

This is about death. A young child dealing with the loss of a loved one. It's sweet, poignant and nostalgic. My own mother recently died and I found this a good book to play for my grandkids. Loss is hard to understand as an adult, this does a really good job drawing images of nostalgia in relation to the loss of a loved one.

Thank you to Kevin Maillard, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading this book, we struggle to understand the loss of a grandparent through the prespective and eyes of a grandchild who cherished his grandma. As we attempt to understand we use language of the native community to help us understand and to mourn. The overriding comfort comes from the community embracing and holding up the memories of grandma. Community being the focus though acknowledging the individual struggle of a child trying to work through this very difficult truth. We see the breadth and depth of a native community. Skin color variations, clothing, shapes and sizes.

The prose and illustrations are stunning, so why give it a 3? As a school librarian, I am not sure where this would sit best. In the office of the school psychologist? On a shelf dedicated to mourning and death? I wouldn't know how to use it as a read aloud but for a small group dealing with family death.

[Andrew Dittmar · Rating 5 out of 5]

And They Walk On by Kevin Maillard & Rafael Lopez


Oh, what a lovely book. An exploration of grief, and the multiple ways to think about those we've lost: in imagining their next steps after death, perhaps, but also in walking in their footsteps and embracing their memories. The images of the possessions of the lost grandmother in the story - her shoes, left as she left them, for example - hit hard. A lovely, meaningful book.

Grateful to NPR, of all places, that recommended this picture book!


Reading history:
Normally I keep this in my private notes section, but I'm moving it. Yay!

Reading history was not added on Goodreads, but was instead kept in my brain and backed up with photographic evidence.


Started January 3rd, 2026.
Finished January 3rd, 2026.


January 3rd, 2026: read entire book in physical copy.

[Dest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the illustrations by Rafael Lopez. Beautiful and full of emotion. His illustrator's note at the end is also great and talks about how he blended Mexican and Seminole influences.

The text ends well. But the beginning was not great IMO. It starts by asking where someone goes when they walk on. Then: "Did they go to the market to thump green melons and sail shopping carts in the sea of aisles? Perhaps they're in the garden watering a jungle of herbs... " Say what? This is poetic, but also possibly confusing for a child.

In the middle of the story, it gets a lot clearer that the boy's grandparent has died (they/them pronouns are used for the grandparent, though the jacket calls them grandma).

The ending is great. "For we are all walkers... in the end we all walk on."

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

No, it's fine, I love to cry!

Gosh, this is a beautifully moving and gorgeously illustrated book. Every culture, every religion, every individual person has their own idea of what happens when a person is no longer with us. And They Walk On draws on a predominant Indigenous idea that imagines death as a kind of walking on. We follow a grieving young boy as he wonders: where did his grandmother walk to? Is she coming back? How are her things just as she left them? We learn that through the power of love, food, and continued remembrance, a loved one is never truly gone.

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

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highlighted by beautifully bright and welcoming illustrations, And They Walk On is a comforting look at what happens when someone you love moves on. The text is fairly vague in tone, and will require an adult to help young children understand what is going on, but it is a good way to have the conversation. The author balances the tone between sad and hopeful without going too far either way. The brightly colored illustrations made this books stand out for me.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about grief. A boy talks about how when someone walks on, they still leave things and feelings behind. and that sometimes that feels painful, but sometimes it's a blessing that you can remember them in. Very good book for kids who have lost a loved one. I had never heard Walks On as a way to described what happens when someone passes, and I feel like it is a more positive/hopeful way of talking about death.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

In both the simple, wondering, affecting text and the jewel like illustrations by Rafael Lopez, the question of where someone goes after death is pondered, turned over like a pebble in a child's hand. I, too have expected a loved one to simply return. The cultural understanding of a person having simply walked on and out of this life has its comfort, an acknowledgement of continuing influence, understanding, and love. Such a beautiful and essential book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated book tackles the idea of “walking on” and how to handle grief. This book is written from an Indigenous perspective, but will be relatable to any child grieving a loved one. I’m looking forward to being able to have this available in my elementary library and share it with the counselors at my school.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about grief. About when a family member walks on, but it still feels like they’re right there with you. This book is masterfully illustrated and has a wonderful heart. I like how this book approaches the subject of death and its finality. I think this would be a great book to share with children experiencing a loss.

[Precious Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book, reminds us that even though our loved ones leave, they still walk on with us. It was nice seeing some of the Mexican culture and beliefs. AWESOME, we got a recipe at the end of the story. Overall such a beautiful way of teaching even though they walk on, you still are with them.

Thank you NetGalley & Kevin for the opportunity to read this Arc!

[Ricki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is genuinely one of the most beautiful picture books I've ever read. It tells the story of what happens after a person walks on---and the grief that can remain. When I finished reading, I immediately sent a message to five friends who work with youth. This is a book that belongs in every classroom and library collection. Whew.

[Danielle Mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

This is a beautiful story for anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one. The concept of they walked on instead of passed away is a wonderfully caring way to look at the other side of life. The author's note at the end is equally sweet and beautiful too.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting way to think of where family members and others go when they die. And a boy learns that when his grandmother is gone she has walked on to another place. Remembering the loved one as in Native American families and what they did before they "walked on" is a nice way of remembering the loss of that member of the family.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook is a look at grief and the memories that we have of loved ones when they pass away.
Yes, they pass away and we won't see them, but because we have all of these memories that we created with them, they will always be with us.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook arc.

[Laura]

A picture book that tackles death and grief from a Native American perspective that also feels accessible to children of any background. While there are sad moments, both the text and illustrations are filled with such beautiful colors, imaginative scenes, and a joyful outlook.

[Book Nerds In MN · Rating 5 out of 5]

An indigenous writer and a Latino illustrator come together to create this beautifully written and equally beautifully illustrated children's book focusing on loss and grief. I cannot recommend this one enough.

[Clinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I was a poet to describe this book.

It is absolutely beautiful inside and out. the artwork is astonishing and the story itself is incredibly moving. This will be on my personal shelf one day.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely gorgeous picture book for all ages about grieving a loved one. The words are beautifully supported by the illustrations. I got misty-eyed 💖

[Rae the Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful conversation starter for talking about death with children.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you need a book about a boy who wants to know what happens after someone has died combined with native american culture, this one is for you. The illustrations are really colorful.

[Sassygirl87 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story also contains, "Kevin's grape dumpling recipe".

[Jennifer Miera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations.

[Renee MA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adults: Take the time to read or listen to the author's note, it adds so much.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book about death, that focuses on how odd it can feel to have someone there one moment and gone the next. Colorful artwork and a message of hope.