Popo The Xolo- Popo El Xolo

Written by Paloma Angelina Lopez 

Illustrated by Abraham Matias 

*Publisher: ‎Charlesbridge

*Print length: ‎40 pages

*ISBN-10: ‎1623544572

*ISBN-13: ‎978-1623544577

*Reading age: ‎6 - 9 years

2026 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award

An emotionally resonant, visually stirring picture book illustrated by Pura Belpré Award–winning Abraham Matias, exploring life, death, and celebrating loved ones for children navigating grief.

Inspired by the 9 levels of Mictlān and the role Xolo dogs play by guiding those who have passed on in Indigenous cultural understandings of present-day Mexico.

Nana is surrounded by family and takes joy in her many grandchildren. She's also tired and feels pain. Soon she begins her transition from life into death, accompanied by her beloved Xolo dog, Popo.

Together they go on Nana’s journey, and by the end of the story, Nana's family celebrates the many years of love they shared with her. And a grandchild will now care for Popo.

Beautifully told by debut author Paloma Angelina Lopez and featuring stunning blend of colored art by Mexican illustrator, Abraham Matias, Popo the Xolo helps kids understand how loved ones live on in our memories. An unforgettable picture book that's grounded in the importance of the 9 levels of Mictlān and the role Xolo (show-low) dogs play in Indigenous cultural understandings of present-day Mexico.

¡Edición en español! Un libro ilustrado emocionalmente conmovedor y visualmente estimulante sobre la vida, la muerte y la celebración de aquellos a quienes amamos. Ideal para los niños con preguntas importantes, que están lidiando con el duelo y experimentando una pérdida.

Inspirado por los 9 niveles de Mictlān y el rol que desempeñan los perros Xolo al guiar a quienes han fallecido, según las creencias culturales indígenas del México actual.

Nana está rodeada de su familia y disfruta de la compañía de sus muchos nietos. También está cansada y siente dolor. Pronto ella comienza su transición de la vida a la muerte, acompañada por su querido perro Xolo, Popo.

Juntos emprenden el viaje de Nana y, al final de la historia, la familia de Nana celebra los muchos años de amor que compartieron con ella. Y ahora, un nieto cuidará de Popo.

Hermosamente narrado por la autora debutante Paloma Angelina Lopez y con una impresionante mezcla de arte colorido por el ilustrador mexicano Abraham Matias, Popo el Xolo ayuda a los niños a comprender cómo los seres queridos viven en nuestros recuerdos. Un libro ilustrado inolvidable basado en los 9 niveles de Mictlān y el rol que desempeñan los perros Xolo (sho-lo) en las creencias culturales indígenas del México actual.

REVIEW

Lopez deftly lands on a bittersweet note, a message of love that transcends life and death. Gently magnificent. —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Matias’ captivating illustrations, executed in cut paper and digital media, illuminate the story with rich jewel-toned colors and texture. Details such as Nana’s and Popo’s bony reflections in water offer interesting visual cues, while Spanish words throughout the text add cultural authenticity and warmth. This is a triumphant, moving reflection on death that pays meaningful homage to Indigenous Mexican culture. An author’s note about Mictlān, xoloitzcuintle dogs, and grief and a Spanish glossary conclude. Also available in a Spanish edition, Popo el Xolo. —Booklist, starred review

Matias’s jewel-toned cut-paper and wash-style digital illustrations leap off the page with a vivid light-and-shadow dimensionality suggestive of puppetry, making for a luminous tale of comfort. Back matter discusses the Nine Levels of Mictlān and more. —Publishers Weekly, starred review

This picture book focusing on the passing of a loved one and their journey through Mictlān is an excellent addition to children’s picture book collections, and a solid choice to discuss loss and to share on Day of the Dead. —School Library Journal

Paloma Angelina Lopez is a mother, student, and creative living in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She is a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico. Her maternal grandmother’s family comes from Jalisco and Guanajuato and her father’s family is from Zacatecas and Sinaloa. Paloma married into a Cherokee family that is heavily involved in language and culture, and she works as a full-time Cherokee language learner. She hopes to become an educator and author in the Cherokee language. This is her debut children’s book. She hopes to publish more children’s literature inspired by her culture and upbringing.

Abraham Matias is an illustrator, designer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. He spent his childhood in Mexico making his own toys and miniature sets and drawing stories. Abraham works with paper-cut puppets staged and photographed inside a toy theater to create 3D, handcrafted, dreamlike scenes. https://abrahammatias.com