★ “Bagley (Vincent Comes Home) once again conveys her deep understanding of the ways children process loss and her deep respect for their capacity to regain resilience. . . . Bagley’s direct slice-of-life watercolors and text anchor her characters in the world, offering reassurance and affirmation to the story and to readers.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“A gentle story with a lesson about what true friends are made of.” —School Library Journal
“Bagley’s artwork creates an emotionally resonant experience, with the use of white space, perspective, and the expanse of the double-page spread to communicate emotional closeness, distance, and isolation. Readers will be invested in this simple, elegantly told tale and will not be disappointed at its conclusion. . . . An excellent choice for themes of friendship and trust.”—Kirkus Reviews
“A welcome addition to the shelf of books about grief; believable and affirming in its acknowledgment that even the closest friendships go through ups and downs—and of how to ‘bea’ a good friend.”—The Horn Book
“Bagley sensitively demonstrates to her child audience concrete ways of being a good friend.”—Booklist
