Wonderful Goodbyes

by Kelly Wu

A tender, moving picture book about how saying goodbye to a beloved pet is a celebration of everyday and everlasting love.

How do you say goodbye to a beloved pet?
Is it quiet? Is it lonely? Is it sad?
Or can it be wonderful?

Family dog Bailey has been sleeping more and eating less. And her human best friend knows the time has come to say goodbye. So together they sit under their favorite blanket, go on their favorite walk, and visit their favorite spot, choosing joy over sadness. Although Bailey will be gone soon, she will never be forgotten.

With evocative art and bittersweet text, Kelly Wu’s debut picture book is a tender portrait of a special bond, imbued with the love that gives grief its power and the comfort that memories hold. The perfect book to help with discussions of grief and loss.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Grief, Animals

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 2, 2024

Reviews

[Arabdha Biswas · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful story that’s beautifully illustrated and had me tearing up.

[Zoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

DO NOT read this while you’re shelving I was fighting back tears (and failing) for like half an hour 😭😭😭 This book is so beautiful.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bittersweet story of a child who helps their pet say goodbye to the earthly world. Read with tissues nearby.

[Brianna Willis]

Good recommendation for loss of a pet/grief

[Klaudia Kikiopia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the famous words of TS and LDR: “life is emotionally abusive.”

What a truly beautiful book - inside and out. This children’s book is guaranteed to leave you (a grown adult) emotionally damaged; in a heartbreaking and bittersweet way. The illustrations are breathtaking. The story is pragmatic and relatable.

When I first came across the cover, my heart fluttered. The dog in the book, named Bailey, looks JUST like my little dog, Abbie. She’s an American Eskimo / Spitz. She’s now in her geriatric years, but I’m crossing my fingers in the hope that she lives to be 100. Or more.

I’ve read this wonderful book and looked through it multiple times and I cry every time. It really makes me appreciate the little things that take up so much room in my heart.

Kelly Wu - Thank you so much creating this little gem for children and sappy fur-moms/adults (such as myself) to treasure and enjoy.

[Nicole Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

Bring the tissues for this one. The family dog, Bailey, is growing older and her family knows that soon she will pass away. Before that though, her best friend in the family spends as much time with her as possible, doing all the things they love to do together and learning how to say goodbye. A really wonderful book, and way, to help celebrate a pet's life and loss. Recommended for anyone with a sick or old pup or recently lost one.

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable, achingly sweet book about a child who is helping their old dog say many of its "wonderful goodbyes" before it passes away, "We have so many more goodbyes to say, but not enough time. I imagine all your favorite things in the world gathering here just for you. Do you hear their whispers?" This book is so sad, but it ends on a comforting note of how many things will remind this sweet child of their friend who's gone away.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too hard to figure out that you’ll need some Kleenex handy when you read this one. A kind of different approach where the girl takes her beloved dog around to see all the things he loved to let those things say goodbye, ie the toys say goodbye, the sunny stained glass window, the neighbor’s tree. A way to fortify memories for when she sees those things when the dog is gone. Such beautiful illustrations, I want to give the case cover art a hug.

[Carol Gordon Ekster · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art is just gorgeous and the story is approached in a lovely way. It's a child having her sick dog say good-bye to everything. I gave it 5 stars even though it was written in first person and sometimes did not feel like something a child would say. This will offer comfort to families facing a similar situation with their own pet.

[Justine Compomizzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There will be days when I look for you and don’t see you anywhere.” Ugh! This book is a tear jerker! But such a wonderful story for explaining the love between child and pet. A good read for anyone going through saying goodbye to their best friend.

[Conor Holtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and Story.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saying goodbye to a pet is never easy, this book is gentle, thoughtful, full of mindfulness and love

[Beth Reynolds Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellently written and illustrations are amazing. I am 70 years old and having gone through this was very touched.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story to help a child say goodbye to a beloved pet.

[Elizabeth]

Such a sad but sweet book with soft illustrations.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful celebration of a child’s connection to the family dog and the tenderness with which she says goodbye. I was teary by page 2 and full on crying by the end.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet, loving, and beautifully illustrated story about saying goodbye to a beloved pet.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only read this if you enjoy sobbing. What a beautiful book to help children (and adults) through the process of loving and losing a pet.

[SamSamSam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the PERFECT book for children grieving a lost pet.

[YS Lam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really in love with this book such a warm and lovely story and beautiful illustrations! 🩷🩷

[Patricia Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was crying by the second page.

[Taylor Kundel-Gower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great if you love crying

[Bookworm4Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

This bittersweet book tells of a young girl and how she helps her pet and herself say goodbye when her pet is about to pass away.