My Old Pal, Oscar by Amy Hest, Illustrated by Amy Bates

Becky
Oct 16
4 min read

Amy Hest's book invites conversations about grief with children.

Big topics, like death and grief, can be intimidating but are a real part of life, even for children. My Old Pal, Oscar by Amy Hest and illustrated by Amy Bates, is a book I would recommend to gently give space if your child is mourning. In this text, A little boy and a stray dog meet on the beach. At first the boy is not interested, since his old dog, Oscar, died. Reading this book with you can be a safe space for your child to see their own loss and, when ready, open up about how they are feeling.

As I write this, I realize again Amy Hest's brilliant way of writing. She used so few words to express such deep truth. This is the beauty of a well crafted children's picture book!

Amy Bates crafted illustrations that help express emotions. The expressions on the puppy and boy speak volumes. The coloring of the scenes at the start are predominately in grays but transition into warm yellows at the end.

Without words, Bates shows that the grieving boy's mother is there for him. We see her at his side at the water the day after his dog died. We see her watching and caring for him. In lovely art, we see a parent supporting their child as they come through a season of heavy emotions. Grief should not be alone.

You are your child's first and most important teacher. They learn from your actions, attitudes, and words. How are you grieving? What feelings and emotions are you allowing your child to see? Your little one may not have the words for those emotions yet, but you can help. In a simple expression of your own trigger and how you are feeling, you are helping your child see that adults also navigate emotions and do not have to hide them from people they trust. "When I saw the apple orchard yesterday, I wanted to cry. We used to go there with grandma. It is hard saying goodbye to someone. I miss her. Even though it's been a while, I am still sad sometimes because I'm still grieving."

Amy Hest's book My Old Pal, Oscar a was published by Abrams Books for Young Readers in 2016. Amy Bates' art work fits the text in a lovely way. On the copyright page, Bates shares "The illustrations in this book were created using pencil and watercolor."

Core Value: Empathy

A core value shared is that of empathy, recognizing, understanding the feelings of another person and being there for them.

The English word empathy originates in Greek.

Empatheia means passion. It is derived from the Greek word "pathos" (πάθος) has the idea of emotion, feeling, and passion behind it. The prefix "En" (ἐν) is in.

As you and your child discuss My Old Pal, Oscar by Amy Hest, you can also talk about ways you can show empathy toward others.

Truth, Goodness, and Beauty

A truth I see in Amy Hest's book My Old Pal, Oscar, is that we do not need to go through the difficult things of life alone. The boy in the story has family and then a dog to help him go through grief and loss. We are made for community. It is good.

A Video with Discussion Questions

Here's a link to my video which introduces the book, My Old Pal, Oscar by Amy Hest and illustrated by Amy Bates

After your family finds a copy of the book to read, I offer some discussion questions for your children to answer.

An Activity After Reading the Book

After reading My Old Pal, Oscar I hope you and your family are able to talk about your feelings and emotions. At the close of the book, the protagonist draws a picture. Pulling out some crayons, pencils and paper with your child can help. You know what your child needs. This can be silent time together. Your presence means so much to your child. You are their stability in what feels like a storm.

The Purpose Behind This Book Review

This video shares information about the picture book “My Old Pal, Oscar” by Amy Hest and Illustrated by Amy Bates. Since the book’s setting is on the beach, I chose to record near the water as well. This was recorded in Dunedin, Florida, on a windy day so words are provided at the bottom of the screen. Discussion questions follow a quick overview to spark conversation about the book. I hope you are able to find a copy of this delightful story to read. Keep reading with purpose! My goal is to connect people with books that their family might enjoy. As parents, you are your child’s first and most important teacher. You know what your family values. Though I will share links to book reviews, please do your research to determine if a book is best for your family. What reviews do you already trust? You make a world of difference. Keep reading and parenting with purpose!