Pura Belpré Illustration Award Winner, Abraham Matias artist

⭐ Publishers Weekly starred review

Publishers Weekly Best 20 Books of 2025 selection

Kirkus Best of 2025

CALIBA’s 2025 Golden Poppy Mirrors & Windows award winner

2026-2027 Tejas Star Reading List

2026 Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature

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Simultaneously published in English and Spanish, Popo the Xolo helps kids understand how loved ones live on in our memories. This touching story is inspired by Indigenous Mexican culture, specifically the nine levels of Mictlān and the role of the Xoloitzcuintli dog in guiding souls.

I want to call-out and give credit co-designer John Simeon who discovered and signed Abraham Matias to illustrate this picture book. The matching of manuscript to a visual artist is pivotal to the success of a picture book.