WHERE ARE YOU, BRONTË?
By: Tomie dePaola
Illustrated by: Barbara McClintock
Published: May 6, 2025
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Fiction
In Tomie DePaola’s final children’s book, he shares the personal story of losing his faithful companion, Brontë. This moving story will be a comforting read for kids who have lost a pet or even a family member or friend.
For twelve and a half years, Tomie and Brontë did everything together, including sleeping next to each other every night. Brontë loved to go for walks with Tomie, and they had a very special bond. He even drew Brontë into some of his books.
As Brontë grew older, he became blind, yet he was still able to find his dog dish and his way around the house. After Brontë was gone, Tomie was sad and missed him very much. He wondered, Where is Brontë? At the end, after all the sadness, he realizes Brontë is everywhere he is, always in his heart.
This special story of a man and his dog will resonate with kids and families who have their own special pet. McClintock’s illustrations take us into dePaola’s life with Brontë and their years together, with each section focusing on a different stage in their life.
Brontë was born in 2004 and died in 2016. Tomie dePaola was writing this story about his dear companion, and had started illustrating it when he went into the hospital. Tomie dePaola died at the age of 85 on March 30, 2020. Illustrator Barbara McClintock includes a note at the end of the book. She shares about her working relationship with Tomie and how special it was to work alongside his manuscript to create the illustrations for this book. Just like Tomie had Brontë forever in his heart, we will forever have the precious stories the dePaola shared with us. His stories have impacted children for many years, and his talents will be greatly missed.
To purchase a copy of WHERE ARE YOU, BRONTË?, click HERE.
Remember your beloved pet with this Rainbow Bridge Memorial.
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
Posted Under Barbara McClintock, Book Review, Children's books, death, dogs, fiction, grief, Tomie dePaola