“Evan and his dog did everything together.” Their favorite among many things is working in Evan’s garden. “But one day, the unthinkable happened.” The death of Evan’s dog sends him into a spiral. First Evan destroys the garden, then he lets “spiky,” “prickly” weeds take over. But he leaves a rogue pumpkin vine that creeps under the fence into his garden alone—it’s prickly and twisty, too. Soon he begins to tend the vine. Come fall, he takes the pumpkin to the fair, where he spends time with friends and wins third prize: ten dollars “or one of the pups in that box.” A story written with vivid, visceral language shows that sadness can lead to anger but the two emotions are not the same. Lush acrylic, oil, and pencil illustrations show Evan as an anthropomorphized fox, allowing kids space to consider their own feelings without being overwhelmed in a story in which grief and love go hand-in-hand, but with time so do hope and healing. Highly Commended, 2019 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Ages 5–8)

A Caldecott Honor Book

An ALA Notable Book

A breathtakingly beautiful and luminescent book that is pitch-perfect for anyone of any age who has experienced any type of loss or disappointment, from New York Times–bestselling picture book creator Brian Lies.

New York Times–bestselling author-illustrator Brian Lies has created a beautiful, accessible, and deeply personal story about friendship, loss, and renewal. The Rough Patch was awarded a Caldecott Honor and features stunning paintings from the award-winning creator of Bats at the Beach.

Evan and his dog do everything together, from eating ice cream to caring for their prize-winning garden, which grows big and beautiful. One day the unthinkable happens: Evan’s dog dies. Heartbroken, Evan destroys the garden and everything in it. The ground becomes overgrown with prickly weeds and thorns, and Evan embraces the chaos.

But beauty grows in the darkest of places, and when a twisting vine turns into an immense pumpkin, Evan is drawn out of his isolation and back to the county fair, where friendships—old and new—await.

A deeply hopeful and positive book, The Rough Patch was awarded a Caldecott Honor and is a story about love, loss, and hope, and the healing power of friendship and nature. “Weepy and wonderful.”—Wall Street Journal