Where Lily Isn't

by Julie Paschkis, Margaret Chodos-Irvine (Illustrator)

Where Lily Isn't is Julie Paschkis and Margaret Chodos-Irvine's beautiful bereavement picture book celebrating the love of a lost pet.

Lily ran and jumped and barked and whimpered and growled and wiggled and wagged and licked and snuggled.

But not now.

It is hard to lose a pet. There is sadness, but also hope—for a beloved pet lives on in your heart, your memory, and your imagination.

Genres: Picture Books, Death, Grief, Dogs, Childrens, Animals, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published January 21, 2020

About the author

I was born in 1957 and grew up in Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. I have a brother and two sisters. My parents encouraged us to make things, to read, to draw and to play outside.

I attended Germantown Friends School, Ringerike Folkehogskole in Norway, Cornell University and the School for American Craftsmen at RIT, where I got a BFA. I have a teaching certificate from UW and I taught art to children for several years, mostly at the Bush School.

Since 1991 I have been painting and illustrating full time. I have had many shows of my paintings and of various other work (including cut paper, embroidery and bread). I illustrate books. I design fabric and make quilts. My work flows in many directions, but all of the ideas and creations are connected. The work I do in one area inspires the work in others. Ideas beget ideas.

I live in Seattle with my husband Joe Max Emminger. He is a painter.

I still like to make things, to read, draw and play outside.

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bittersweet picture book that explores the emotions of a young girl after the loss of her dog, Lily.

Lily once used to play and wag and wiggle and snuggle, but now that Lily's gone, there are so many places where she isn't: under the table, waiting for food to fall; barking at the mailman; getting excited to go outside when the girl puts on her coat; and waiting to greet the girl when she comes home. But there is one place where Lily still is, and that's in the hearts of those who loved her.

Where Lily Isn't would be a valuable book for anyone who's lost a pet, especially a dog. It's sweet without being too saccharine, and captures the bittersweet act of remembering in a way that's easily accessible, even for very young readers.

I would definitely recommend this one, especially to those who are at a moment in their lives when they might need to hear its message.

Quotable moment:

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where Lily Isn’t by Julie Paschkis, illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine. PICTURE BOOK. Godwin Books (Macmillan), 2020. $18. 9781250184252

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

A young girl remembers all of places her beloved dog Lily isn’t as she mourns her pet’s death.

There are definitely some good books about holding a funeral for a pet which has died, but this is the first one that I can remember about the mourning process. Combine this with Paws + Edward by Espen Dekko and The End of Something Wonderful by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic for a complete look at pets. I would read them together though – not just hand the to a child, because that is quite heavt reading with them all together.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dealing with the loss of a pet is a touchy subject, but an intensely important one. In this case, the openings reveal that Lily filled the home and family with life, and also filled their hearts. The successive pages point ourt all the ways/palces in which Lily's absence is specifically felt, in heart tugging ways. It does universalize such feelings through the very particular details displayed, but it comes to a comforting full circle when readers see that Lily has a forever home in the character's heart.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is all about the loss of a pet--I certainly like how it's not too text heavy and can be read in a short sitting. The majority of the book focuses on all the places where the little girl misses her dog, so I'm not sure if that would comfort readers or make them more sad? The last few pages about Lily (the dog) being in her owner's heart were very sweet and left the story off on a good note.

[SL · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has had a beloved pet die, I could so relate to this story. WHERE LILY ISN'T is about a young girl who is coping with the loss of her beloved dog, Lily. The girl keenly feels her loss and describes all the ways Lily won't be there anymore to keep her company but that Lily will always live on in her memory and heart.

SOB.

Beautifully done, authors. Beautifully done.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

For any child or adult who has lost a beloved pet. It was so sad... but so sweet. It made me cry but also made me feel happy by the end. It doesn't try to make losing a pet easier; instead, it acknowledges the empty spaces you feel, the voids, the things missing... and lets you know that you're not alone. And that your pet will always live inside your heart.

[Cindy Dobrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book might feature a young girl, but it will touch people of all ages who have lost a pet and are reminded throughout the day of where Lily (or Fido or...) isn't. The final touching scene provides hope for healing without promising another pet. Loved this one.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl had a beloved pet dog, Lily. Now she doesn't.

The girl shows us all the things Lily used to do. Lily doesn't do those things now.

The girl shows us all the places Lily used to go. Lily doesn't go to those places now.

The ending is beautiful and healing.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching and ultimately reassuring story about grieving the death of a pet. Simple language and illustrations that go straight to the heart. Loved this one.

[Big · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for coping with and talking about the loss of a pet.

[Meredith Kaupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a simple, beautiful book about the loss of a beloved pet. Definite addition to my library.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet book about the loss of a pet

[Emma M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a simple, yet powerful book that explores grief. I was surprised at my own emotional response as the book progressed.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I said goodbye to my dog back in May of this year. This book is excellent for all ages(not just Children). Good luck not crying while reading the book.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the course of life means encountering death, either our own or someone or something close to us. In this brief and understated picture book, the author explores bereavement and how one girl copes with the loss of her beloved dog, Lily. The initial illustrations, created with hand-cut stencils and gouache, show the vivacity of Lily as she bounded around her human companion, savoring life, making clear just how important Lily was. But those illustrations quickly show a girl in mourning, missing her pet and all the empty places where Lily no longer sits. The repeated use of the phrase and concept of where "Lily isn't" allows the girl's emotion to resonate with readers as they watch her go through her day, missing her dog terribly. Eventually, she turns to drawing and captures the essence of Lily on paper and comforts herself with a reminder that Lily lives on in her memories, gone but never, never, never forgotten. Caregivers and teachers might share this one with a child trying to come to terms with a loss or add it to a text collection on this topic. As much as we might want our animal friends to live long lives, theirs are just never long enough.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

While grieving the death of her pet, a young girl describes all the places that Lily no longer is and the one place she still is.

The story depicts a girl adjusting to life without her dog, whose death has left multiple empty spaces in her life. She misses her dog and feels her life several times throughout the day. But the main character takes comfort in her knowledge that her beloved pet is still with her in her heart.

Whether introducing young readers to the concept of death to prepare them for an inevitable future event or helping young readers process their grief, this is an excellent picture book. It beautifully illustrates the acceptance phase of grief.

[Lieca Brown Hohner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, easy and effective. Beginning readers can read and/or memorize the first few pages. These gave me the feeling of an old Golden Book. The stark opposing page that Lily does not do any of those things shown on the first few pages was a Whammo! to me. The story continues to tell where Lily isn't because of her absence. It then completes with the little girl learning where Lily still is and always will be: in her heart. I loved the arc covered in the storyline and thought it spoke to how many children think about having and losing their pets. My only "gripe" is the one Whammo! page, but I'm sure it is the perfect approach for many young readers.

[Marilyn Wolpin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Julie Paschkis and artist Margaret Chodos-Irvine beautifully blend sparse, loving text with soft art and plenty of white space to convey the feelings of emptiness and sorrow after a pet dies. From the MC’s point of view, every place in the house where the loving, energetic, adorable doggie isn’t is a painful reminder. Every child or grown up who has lost a pet can relate. But in the end, the little girl knows exactly where Lily IS and will always be. A perfect book to help a child deal with this kind of loss.

[Ashley Adkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how this one pulled at my heart strings. Our family recently got our first puppy and we love her dearly. Reading this book after now having our own puppy really makes you realize how important your dog is to your life and everyday actions. Though very bittersweet, this book does a great job at reminding you what is important. The text is simple as are the illustrations but the words work hard to bring much emotion to the reading.

[Christine Turner]

Library School Journal recommends this book for PreS-Gr 2.

Note: The book would be used with younger children if read with adult.

Subject: Pet loss -- Juvenile literature.
Grief -- Juvenile literature.
Pet loss -- Pictorial works -- Juvenile fiction.

This book addresses the death of a pet, but the book is not overly heartwrenching.

[Julia Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely picture book that can help children who have just lost a pet. The words and illustration were fun to look at, such as sentences written on the mail coming through the mail slot. A good book for young pet owners who have lost their animals and need a comforting book to aid them.

[Elizabeth]

This book went from being super cute to sad. I liked the beginning better.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really well-done picture book about the death of a pet. The story was lovely, with simple but heartfelt text. The illustrations were nice and pleasant.

[Raven Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, but not sappy story about the loss of a beloved pet. Simple, but not simplistic. Fun illustrations

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visually poetic and heartfelt, exploration of post-pet death grief and memory

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

All who have lost a pet know the empty feeling your home has when a beloved pet is no longer there. A remembrance that the pet remains in your heart.

[Effie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully addresses the strangeness of all the space and quiet left after a pet has died.

[Anjanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for child who has lost a dog

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really glad I'm not a pet person so that I don't have any pets to miss because otherwise I think I would be weeping.