A boy says farewell to a loved one as he imagines her walking on into her next journey, a moving and superbly illustrated story about loss and hope byFry Breadauthor Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by acclaimed, award-winning artist Rafael Lpez.

When a young boys grandmother walks on, he wonders where shes gone.

Did she go to the market to buy ripe melons? Or maybe shes in the garden, watering her herbs?

It feels like shes somewhere far away, so the boy finds news ways to share stories about his day, hoping she can hear him.

Even her house feels like its waiting for her return. Then as the boy approaches the kitchen, the scent and memories of her cooking assure him that no matter where she is, her love will always be close by.

Because when someone walks on, they stay with us. They grow in our hearts and guide us as we walk in their footsteps.

Award-winning author ofFry Bread, Kevin Noble Maillard, breathes life in this intimate picture book about the love that lasts even after a loved one has walked on, with illustrations from renowned, best-selling artist, Rafael Lpez.

Kevin Maillardis a contributor to theNew York Timesand a professor of law at Syracuse University. He is the author ofFry Bread: A Native American Family Story, a picture book illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, which won the Sibert Medal and the American Indian Youth Literature Honor. An enrolled member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, he lives with his family in Manhattan and Vermont.kevinmaillard.com

RafaelLpezis aNew York Timesbestselling, award winning illustrator who has illustrated numerous acclaimed picture books, includingThe Day You BeginandThe Year We Learned to Fly(New York Timesbestsellers),Dancing Hands(Pura Belpr Medal), andJust Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You(Schneider Award), among others. Rafael is the recipient of three Pura Belpr medals, the Schneider Family Book Award, the Jane Addams Book Award, and the Toms Rivera Book Award. He was the first guest artist of the Smithsonians National Postal Museum and founder of the Urban Art Trail, a series of large-scale community murals around the U.S. Rafael lives in San Diego and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.rafaellopez.com

• Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
• Publish Date: October 14, 2025
• Pages: 40
• Language: English
• Type: Hardback
• EAN/UPC: 9781250821980
• Dimensions: 254.0 X 254.0 X 1.0 mm | 1.0 pounds
• BISAC Categories: Kids