Buying Options

Print List Price:	$16.99
Kindle Price:	$11.99 Save $5.00 (29%)

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.

Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

There was an error. We were unable to process your subscription due to an error. Please refresh and try again.

Enter a promotion code or Gift Card

Share <Embed>

The Longest Letsgoboy by [Derick Wilder, Catia Chien]

Follow the Authors

Derick Wilder

Catia Chien

The Longest Letsgoboy Kindle Edition

by Derick Wilder (Author), Catia Chien (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition

46 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$11.99

—

Hardcover, Picture Book

"Please retry"

$13.69

$11.78

$5.13

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey meets Dog Heaven in this profoundly beautiful book about the special relationship between kids and dogs, the importance of language, and finding the meaning of life even in its final days.

Poignant, hopeful, and lovingly told, this dog's journey—told by the dog himself in his own unique words—proves that love abides beyond a lifetime, out of sight but never far away.

As a dog and his little girl go on their final walk together, he experiences the sights, smells, and wonders of this world one last time before peacefully passing on. But for such a good boy (oh yes, he is!) and his foreverfriend, that doesn't mean it's the end.

Offering a unique and noteworthy take on death, this book balances the somber topic with a dog's ever-optimistic viewpoint, all woven together with its unconventional yet fitting approach to language.

Family members, librarians, art-lovers, and educators alike will use this book as an accessible and comforting introduction to the ever-difficult topic of death, discussed and related in a new way with hopeful, uplifting, innovative language.

THE PERFECT BOOK TO TALK ABOUT LOSS: The perennial themes of grief, fear, and death are always relevant and classic discussion topics even in families not yet dealing with death. The perfect answer to kids' big questions about what happens when we die, this book will be a standard in every home library.

CREATIVE USE OF LANGUAGE: The words in this book are incredibly special, with phrases that conjure how the dog sees the world. The enjoyable challenge of matching up "letsgoboy" to a walk or "pufftails" to rabbits will make for meaningful discussions on a parent's lap or in a classroom reading circle.

TEACHES CHILDREN EMPATHY: Reading this story from the dog's perspective is the perfect way for young readers to understand that the way another character thinks and perceives the world is different from their own experience.

A BEAUTIFUL DOG STORY: Ideal for readers who love dogs, want dogs, or are going through a grieving process for their family dog, this book celebrates all that is most magical about these animals who are always by our side.

A COMFORTING MESSAGE: It's rare for a book about death to extend beyond the moment of dying. The continuation of the dog's story past this point makes it special and especially comforting.

Perfect for: parents and caregivers, dog lovers, educators

Reading age

5 - 8 years
Print length

45 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Chronicle Books LLC
Publication date

October 25, 2021
Page Flip

Enabled
Word Wise

Not Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

Enabled
ISBN-13

978-1452177168
See all details

Brendan Wenzel
66
Kindle Edition
1 offer from $8.51
Hudson Talbott
150
Kindle Edition
1 offer from $10.99
Derick Wilder
Kindle Edition
1 offer from $7.99
Andrea Wang
213
Kindle Edition
1 offer from $11.99
Dan Yaccarino
23
Kindle Edition
1 offer from $11.99
Micha Archer
60
Kindle Edition
1 offer from $10.99

Create your FREE Amazon Business account to save up to 10% with Business-only prices and free shipping. Register today

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3-Letsgoboy, a dog along in years, and his pint-sized companion embark on their final walk, their senses taking in the magic of the summer woods. Letsgoboy is delighted at every turn by the sights, sounds, and smells of the forest, and he uses a lexicon uniquely his own to describe his environs-clouds are puffers, trees are tallsticks, squirrels are branchjumpers. And while his joy cannot be dulled by the fatigue of old age, Letsgoboy knows that this walk will be his last. He revels in the love he feels for his surroundings and Little, his girl. With his earthbound journey complete, he peacefully passes in the shadow of his home. His girl grieves, seasons turn, and spring brings renewed life and a puppy to Letsgoboy's child. Wilder deftly navigates the difficult topic of death by presenting it in tandem with the joy of life. The grief of loss is acknowledged, but not dwelled upon, and Wilder's use of literal-and sometimes silly-descriptive phrases adds just the right amount of levity to a tough subject matter. The mixed media illustrations work brilliantly in conjunction with the text, particularly Chien's depiction of Letsgoboy's passing. The palette fluctuates from vibrant to solemn, shifting appropriately to the mood of the story. VERDICT One not to be missed, this moving, visceral tale is a testament to the bond between a child and pet. Any person, young or old, who has experienced loss will find this essential purchase a profound comfort.-Sarah Simpson, Westerville P.L., OHα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

Review

“[A] moving testament to the love between child and dog. An affecting resource for starting conversations with readers experiencing their own loss.”-Publishers Weekly

“[A]s genuinely doggy a narrative as ever there was . . . Echoing the strong mutual attachment that underlies every line of this monologue, Chien’s grainy, soft-focus scenes follow [an] old pooch and a tiny, exuberant child who barely reaches his shoulder through a woodsy ramble, and then sends the dog on alone, to soar through bright abstract spaces . . . If there’s a dryeye in the house after this, check for a pulse.”-Booklist, starred review

“Stunning, tender, and brilliant. Readers will laugh and cry-but most of all love.”-Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“One not to be missed, this moving, visceral tale is a testament to the bond between a child and pet. Any person, young or old, who has experienced loss will find this essential purchase a profound comfort.”-School Library Journal, starred review

“[The Longest Letsgoboy] is a perfect storm of tearjerk, with its supple poetry, canine narration, and picture of loss, but there’s a reassuring message about what we love remaining a part of us forever that youngsters may find . . . bolstering. . . . Chien’s mixed-media illustrations . . . tactfully distance the events, and an emphasis on sunny tones keeps the mood upbeat even amid the sadness. [A] spiritual complement to the more concrete take[s] on pet succession . . .”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09FYPSTBS
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chronicle Books LLC (October 25, 2021)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 25, 2021
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 22174 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 45 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1452177163
Lending ‏ : ‎ Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #1,628,068 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #609 in Children's eBooks on Death, Grief & Bereavement
- #2,170 in Children's Dog Books (Kindle Store)
- #2,338 in Children's Books on Death & Dying

Customer Reviews:
46 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Derick Wilder
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Derick is an author/educator and founder of Reading Giraffe, a literacy initiative that uses the wonder of picture books to help create lifelong readers. Derick lives with his daughter in Fort Mill, SC, where they share their home with Koda, a Siberian husky, Sammy, a ball python, and stacks of books. You can find him online at www.derickwilder.com.
See more on the author's page
Catia Chien
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more
See more on the author's page

Customer reviews

5 star		100%
4 star 0% (0%)		0%
3 star 0% (0%)		0%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviews with images

See all customer images

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

chelsea lin

Heartfelt story about loss and lasting love.

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2022

Verified Purchase

This undeniably beautiful and heartfelt story about an old dog’s last walk but lasting love is a must for any bookshelf. It is narrated by the dog himself, in a unique language allhisown, and it pulls you into him and his heart immediately. The art is absolutely stunning. He’s a goodboy, yes he is. And this is a greatbook, yes it is. It will stay with you for a long, no, the longest time.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

L. Wells

Beautiful

Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2022

Verified Purchase

This is a stunning book about the loss of a beloved dog. Will make you cry but also feel hopeful.

Helpful

C C

Helps children understand losing a pet.

Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2021

Verified Purchase

Great book for children to learn about the loss of a pet.
Well written in dog speak. Unique.
Illustrations are beautiful.

Helpful

david f.

Beautifully written and illustrated

Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2021

Verified Purchase

Bought this for my 5 year old grandson. He loved it.

Helpful

Becky

Tender and Beautiful

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2021

There are no words to convey how much I love this book. Told from the perspective of a dog taking a final walk with his forever friend, this beautiful story will break your heart and then put it back together again. The illustrations are stunning, and the unique dog language is utterly charming. It perfectly captures the personality of our furry friends and brings lightness and joy to what could be a difficult topic. But this book doesn’t focus on loss and grief. It focuses on love and hope, and how not even death can take that away. That is what sets this book apart, and that is what will bring comfort to so many.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Jane Healy

Beautiful book about loss for all ages

Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2022

Can a book be simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking? If so, this is that book. It is a joyful story of a dog's final day, read with a lump in my throat. Told from the dog's point of view, the author invents words that seem like those a dog might think. "Mewmew wakes me, rumbledrumming my tummy," says the dog on page one. The illustration shows a kitten waking up an old dog, whose face is mostly white. The dog loves Little, his "foreverfriend," and feels like a pup again playing with her. The two of them are a pair, Little waiting for the elderly dog and the dog watching out for Little as they make their rounds in nature. That night, assured that Little will be ok, he follows the call from the "puffers" (clouds) to "Letsgoboy," and he is transported to a bright, bounding afterlife. He looks back to see that Little and her people miss him, and he misses them, too. A season passes, and then he sees that Little has a new "awwwpuppy." The story ends in a beautiful way, with Little looking up at the sky to greet the old dog, and he returning the greeting in his own special way. The pastel illustrations keep the mood soft, loving, and imaginative, while bursting with color. As a weeper, I would never be able to read this aloud, but it would be a good book for anyone who has lost a pet, must deal with the death of a loved one, or who wonders about the afterlife.

Helpful

NC Mom

Beautiful, heart-touching book about the loss of a pet dog

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2021

This beautiful and heart-touching story is told from the dog's point of view. It's the dog's last day on earth and he spends it with his favorite human person, called Little. Little and the dog tour all the places that they have always loved to visit together. This is a comforting book to read with a child who has lost their pet, as it shows the pet is still present even after it has passed away.
The language is a little funny because it's told in "dog speak," but it's done in a way that makes it easy for us humans to understand.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Comforting Book About Loss

Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2022

This is an incredibly well written book about love, loss, hope, and moving past loss. It is told from the perspective of an aged and dying dog, taking its final walk in the woods with its person. Reading this, felt like a love letter, an assurance that all will be ok and Wilder adds an element of dog language that elevates the experience. The illustrations by Catia Chien pair up perfectly with the text. Great use of color and texture to capture the experience. For anyone who has ever lost a pet, we highly recommend using it as a source to help discuss pet loss regardless of age. We think this would make a welcome addition to a school, library, and home bookshelf. Deserving of all the starred reviews!

Helpful