Otis & Peanut Find a Way

“Heartwarming tales of friendship between a long-haired guinea pig and a naked mole rat in the spirit of Frog and Toad. In the third book in this charming series of graphic novels, three more delightful stories explore themes of friendship, grief, and belonging. These three stories pack an emotional punch. While the second book in the series, Otis and Peanut Forever and Ever, focused on Peanut grieving for his sister, Pearl, this third installment spotlights Otis grappling with his own grief — with the delightful Peanut supporting him along the way. With Peanut’s help, Otis is learning how to move on from his grief — how to remember and miss Pearl while at the same time embracing the joy life brings. Addressing death in a book for such young kids can seem daunting, but as she did in the first two books, Naseem has tackled the topic head on, conveying the mix of emotions that accompany the loss of a loved one and what the process of grieving is all about. In “The Trip,” Peanut helps Otis overcome his fear of leaving home by practicing going somewhere without going anywhere. In “The Stone,” Otis begins to discover how time helps to smooth over your sadness. In “The Visit,” a quick visit from his sister, Marion, prompts Otis to realize that although planning is helpful, sometimes a bit of spontaneity makes for the best of times. These two endearing characters gently explore deep truths about life and human nature while continuing to help each other figure out their world”–