Zoe's Good-Bye

I think Zoe's Good-bye is an excellent pet loss book. The story line was well thought out and gave me a feeling of peace at the end. The illustrations were very well done and accompanied the story beautifully. It is always hard to lose a loved pet and this story gives readers the chance to believe that our pets go on to a better place. Anyone who is a dog lover or who has lost their pet should own this comforting book.

As a long-time Librarian, I can speak to the need for good quality picture books that address the loss of a pet. Zoe's Good-bye is a well-told story that hits just the right note of comfort for a young child. There are many ways to approach this topic, but Mary Schlangen's vet experience clearly gives her a sense of the needs of children (and their parents) when a pet grows old. I particularly liked the transition for the dog from being a loved pet to being a sled-dog again. We all would like to imagine our pets going to a wonderful place when they die. This compares very favorably with Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant.

"Zoe's Good-bye" is a heartwarming story of love and loss, and leaves the reader with such a sense of peace. I bought it to help my children deal with the pending loss of our aging dog, and found the message both touching and reassuring for myself. It's a beautiful way to look at the passing of our four footed friends. While adults will immediately understand what has come to pass at the end of the story, I felt the ending enabled me to open a wonderful dialog with my kids about death and what may await our dog in "Heaven". This story is insightful and so touching. A must read for pet lovers of all ages.

Written by a veterinarian and animal lover, Zoe's Good-bye is a children's picturebook about adjusting to the loss of a four-footed friend. A young girl loves her dog Zoe with all her heart, but Zoe is so old and sick she can hardly move anymore. The only thing her family can do for Zoe now is give her a powerful medicine that will help her die. The girl doesn't want to be parted from her beloved friend, and their last night together is poignant - but also wonderful, because when they step outside for a final time, a dogsled with a musher comes. At the head of the dogsled is a place for Zoe, and she can run fast and free from pain. The musher promises to take care of Zoe, and Zoe's owner knows that even though Zoe's life is ended, Zoe is happy and where she belongs to be. A heartwarming story strongly recommended for young people who are going through the loss of a beloved animal companion.

Zoe's good-bye is a wonderfully written and illustrated story. It is the perfect book to read to your children when they need help saying good-bye to a pet. Mary Schlangen does a fantastic job helping us to turn a very sad and difficult experience into something hopeful and heart warming. Adults and children alike will find this a beautiful story. A must have for any pet lover.