Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Dear Brave Friend

Rate this book
This gentle and heartwarming story captures the love between a boy and his dog, and the sadness that follows after his cherished dog passes away. Written in the form of a letter from the dog to the boy, the letter shares relatable, real life examples of how the boy (and therefore anybody who has lost a dear pet) may be feeling and suggestions on what he can do to help himself get through this most difficult time. The letter also touches on simple acts of kindness that can follow the reader throughout his or her lifetime. The message in this story is applicable to young and old, girl or boy, and to any family pet that has stolen your heart. Story starters, drawing pages, and a place to add pictures of your own beloved pet are also included in the back of the book.

49 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 25, 2019

Loading interface...
Loading interface...

About the author

Leigh Ann Gerk

2 books29 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
25 (89%)
4 stars
3 (10%)
3 stars
0 (0%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for M.M. Hudson.
Author 1 book231 followers
January 28, 2021
For anyone that has ever lost a pet, this book is a sweet story. It is meant for children but I think adults could read it and still gain the strength of it. As the synopsis says, it is written as a letter from the boy's beloved dog that has obviously just passed away. The dog helps the boy through his grief and beyond.

The author gave good advice in how to maybe honor the beloved pet by planting trees or flowers or donating the pet's items to the humane society. These were really great ideas and spoke to the author's years as a grief counselor for lost pets.

I had only two issues with this book. The first is in the middle of the book the story went off into a direction of what it looked like in doggie (animal) "heaven". This was meant to let the reader know that all the animals 'there" are getting along and enjoying their time 'there." I understood what the author was trying to do but, I felt like that might give a false illusion to children as we really have no idea what that might look like. Up until that point, the book seemed more nonfiction. I felt like this section could have been left out and still made the book fantastic.

My second issue was I would have liked to have seen this book more multicultural and girls put into the story or at very least make a girl version. Maybe it could have been a brother/sister that lost the pet. I think it would make the book more rounded.

In spite of those two issues, I really did love this book and think it would be a great resource for children who are grieving the loss of a pet. I loved that there are pages in the back where a child could write to and draw about their beloved pet. A resource in the back is about a dog constellation that can be seen in the sky. That was a neat addition as well.

I would have given this book 5 stars if it had not been for the two items above. None-the-less, I am still giving it 4 1/2 stars.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author. The views here are !00% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle
Profile Image for Debbie.
928 reviews12 followers
February 15, 2021
This is a very soft, relaxing book that addresses pet loss. It is in the form of a letter from a passed pet consoling “his boy.”

Trish Murtha’s illustrations are delicate and tasteful created. They are the perfect accompaniment for the text and this type of book.

The guidance from the dog’s letter to the boy comes from different angles. The boy should acknowledge his feelings and share them. Rely on memories. He is even instructed to put his hand over his heart and pretend that his beloved pet is wagging his tail with each heartbeat.

The idea of planting something as a remembrance is also addressed as a way of dealing with grief.

The back of the book offers places for children to draw pictures and write feelings, etc.

What Concerned Me
I have two very tiny concerns:

The text was lengthy and felt too advanced for very young children. Yet, if it is meant for older children, it felt a bit childish.
Though I firmly believe in heaven, and even doggie heaven, I wasn’t a fan of the descriptions of what the pet was experiencing in heaven. The book felt long enough without adding that.

What I Liked Best
This is a lovely gift for anyone who has lost a pet. Even if the age-range isn’t perfect, the intention of the giver is. Whether the recipient is a small child or an adult, there is something to be gained in this beautiful keepsake.

My thanks to iRead Book Tours and the author for a copy of this book. My review and thoughts are my opinions of which I was free to post.
Profile Image for Cover Lover Book Review.
1,054 reviews70 followers
January 20, 2021
Dear Brave Friend is so sweet! The story is presented in a posthumous letter from a dog to the sad friend who misses him. Though it deals with loss, it is gentle, caring, and comforting.

I love how the dog validates the various emotions that surface after losing a pet or other loved one, whether scared, sad, lonely, or mad. It can be confusing—especially for young children—dealing with the memories and hurt.

“I want you to put your hand over your heart and listen to it THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. That, my friend, is my tail wagging because I’m living in your heart.” (excerpt)


The illustrations truly display the special moments a furry family member brings to a family. They are playful, tender, imaginative, and sweet.

As a special bonus, the book offers interactive pages in the back, allowing the reader to write their own letters, draw pictures, and express their thoughts and feelings. And a sweet presentation page is in the front of the book for gift giving and includes a space for “In Loving Memory of ______.”

This is a sweet and supportive children’s book that helps parents and children deal with the loss of a pet and offers proactive ways to heal.

Dɪsᴄʟᴏsᴜʀᴇ: I ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʀʏ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ. Mʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴛ ɪɴғʟᴜᴇɴᴄᴇᴅ.
Profile Image for Lindsay.
584 reviews23 followers
January 14, 2021
I enjoyed this book called “Dear Brave Friend”. It was good. It is based on the fact of a dog passing away but does it through a letter from the dog to the boy. It explains the feeling of how the boy may feel after losing a pet. Any pet lover can use this for any pet, not just a dog.

The book shows the compassion of how to deal with losing a pet and it is okay. You can put your cat in where the dog is being interpreted. The book does a wonderful job of going through the feeling you or your child may go through with losing a pet.

The pictures are well done. I enjoyed them. I can see many pet lovers using this book. It helps with explaining the feeling and emotions of losing a pet. It also talks about what you can do to remember your pet. There are some blank pages in the back of the book that will let you write and draw your lost pet if you choose to do so.

I was captured by the pictures in the book. They are my favorite. They were beautifully done. I can not say that enough. The story is done well. It hit the meaning of losing a pet without getting too complicated. It was written well. I just can not believe this is a self-help book for children and middle-grade kids. It feels more than that when you read it. Any pet lover will enjoy this book.
Profile Image for JK Joy (aka) Jody ☕.
750 reviews202 followers
January 20, 2021
Dear Brave Friend is an absolute must-read for anyone who has lost his or her beloved pet. A dog that has passed, through a letter he tells this story. He tells about the memories that he had with his friend, and for this friend to know that he lives on through him. The illustrations perfectly match the story. I loved this book and I am 64, so it is for all ages.

I would like to thank the author and iRead Book Tours for the review copy in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Profile Image for Jasmine.
999 reviews85 followers
January 29, 2021
Dear Brave Friend is a sweet, emotional children's book that touches on the subject of grieving a pet who has passed. It's written as a letter from a dog who has passed to his little boy. The letter offers words of reassurance and ways for the little boy to deal with his grief. Whether he's sad or feeling alone, or maybe even angry about how unfair it is to lose a beloved pet, the letter he receives offers advice for channeling those feelings in a proper way.
As a kid, I never experienced the death of a pet, but I did have to give away a cat we had once, and that just about broke my heart. I remember having Polaroid pictures of my cat, and writing things like, "I miss you" and "I love you forever" on them as a way to remember.
As an adult, I had to put down one of my cats a few years ago, and it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. His name was Goober, and he was my sweet ginger baby.
And while I never received a letter from my beloved kitty, I do believe he sent me a sign a year or so after, around the anniversary of his death. I was out walking one evening, and I had the flashlight on on my phone so I could see. Out of nowhere, an orange cat appeared in front of me and sat for a moment. It meowed at me, and when a car turned onto the street, it disappeared, and I couldn't find it, even though I searched. And I never saw this orange cat again, even though I would walk the same route almost daily for months. Seeing this random orange cat helped me with my grief, as strange as that may seem.
Dear Brave Friend is definitely a helpful book to have on hand. While written more for older children (8+), I think even mature younger readers (even 6+, I'd say) might be able to understand and benefit from this book. I would recommend it to anyone who has ever lost a pet, or owns a pet and may someday have to say goodbye.
5 stars.
5,755 reviews
January 18, 2021
Dear Brave Friend is such a good little book for younger readers by Leigh Ann Gerk . I have not seen many books that deal with a loss of a pet. I think the author does a great job showing young readers that it is okay to be sad and it is okay to be missing their dear friend. But, it, also, shows that their loved one’s memory will always be with them. It is quite touching to read.

I really enjoyed the illustrations in Dear Brave Friend. Trish Murtha’s talent shines through in the pictures throughout the book. They followed the story perfectly. The pages were so beautiful and vibrant that would catch any young reader’s eye. I adored the colorful pictures on every single page.

Dear Brave Friend is getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for young readers of all ages, especially for those that four to ten years old. Especially, for those who are grieving the loss of a beloved pet. I will be proudly donating my copy of this book to my son’s elementary school library. I know the librarian and teachers will be thankful and excited to share this story with their younger students. I know they will enjoy this story as much as my family did. We will be looking for more books by Leigh Ann Gerk in the future.

I received Dear Brave Friend from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
Profile Image for Book Dragons TBR.
208 reviews10 followers
January 26, 2021
We have all lost an animal in our lifetime. Even as adults the loss is heartbreaking, imagine what a child feels. The confusion as to why their pet is no longer there with them. It can be such a hard topic to approach with little ones. This book is a phenomenal tool to help children cope with loss. It's told from the perspective of the dog who passed to his little boy that owned him. It is such a touching story that can help ease little minds.

In the back of the book the author tells parents how they can name a star after their child's lost pet. What a great way to memorialize your child's best friend. There is also a guided journal in the back for your child to write their feelings about their lost pet. There are also places in the back to draw and to add their favorite pictures of their pets and to write why the pictures are special. Overall an amazing book that can help your child through the grieving process, paired with gorgeous illustrations. Definitely a book to have on hand for those hard to handle difficult times.
1,016 reviews27 followers
January 28, 2021
I love this sweet book. Written as a letter from a dog who has passed to his beloved little boy, it is emotional and healing. I love how it acknowledges a range of emotions the child may be feeling and validating that it is okay to feel that way. “You may not know how you are feeling right now, you just know it doesn’t feel good.” But you will get through it. “A friendship like ours will last forever.”
The illustrations are beautifully done. While I normally prefer bright, vibrant colors in children’s books, the softer, more tender colors are perfect for this story. The extra pages are the back of the book allow the child to make it their own story by writing a letter back to the beloved pet, draw pictures, and record special memories.
I highly recommend this book for any child dealing with the grief of losing their special friend.
Profile Image for Lisa's Reading.
298 reviews341 followers
February 2, 2021
If you’ve ever lost a beloved pet you know how hard it is to grieve. In the middle-grade book, Dear Brave Friend, children will be comforted in many ways. This is an interactive book that will take children through their many emotions. The beautiful water-color illustrations are perfect for sharing warm feelings.

Dear Brave Friend gives a voice to all of the things that children may be thinking when their pet dies. Instead of dismissing a child’s feelings, this book encourages a child to focus on the good memories and ‘hear’ from the pet. Imagining a pet being in heaven and thinking about the child is part of the way this book describes an animal after it is gone.

In the back of the book you’ll find many pages with prompts and plenty of blank lines for a child to write. They’ll also be able to draw on some of the other pages provided. This will help the child to act on what they have read. This award-winning book offers children an effective way of dealing with grief.

Profile Image for Vicki.
556 reviews37 followers
January 25, 2021
This is a perfect book for anyone, not just children, who have ever lost a pet (or loved one). I've lost more than one and this book brought tears to my eyes.

The book says that pets who have gone to the Rainbow Bridge are still with us in our hearts, and we are still in their hearts. They still love and miss us just like we do them. It lets us know that they are ok and are with all the other animals that have journeyed on.

This is a very touching book and although it is written for children, I think adults who have lost a pet will love this book also.

At the back of the book is a section with prompts like "I miss the times when" and "My favorite memory of you is" to fill your thoughts and feelings, as well as a place to put photos where you can answering this sentence: "This picture is special because..."

The illustrator is Trish Murtha and she did a great job!

I received a free copy of this book for this tour
My thoughts are my honest opinion
Profile Image for Connie Hill.
1,671 reviews41 followers
February 5, 2021
I grew up with dogs. I remember when I was 14 we got a puppy named Buddy. Buddy was the best "fur brother" we could ask for. He was super protective of us, he followed us like a hawk and when I had children of my own he watched over them. We had buddy for 14 wonderful years. I'll never forget when we made the difficult decision to put him down. He could not see, walk and had loss control of his bowels. We put him down on Halloween during Super Storm Sandy. I'll never forget that pain. You never forget your beloved family pets.
I read this book with my 9 and 7 year old sons. It is well written and beautifully illustrated. We did shed a few tears with this book and it prompted discussions about what happens if our current dogs cross the rainbow bridge. This book starts off with a letter sent to a boy from his beloved pet who has passed. The letter helps the boy relive the good times and the memories they had together. This book is a children's book but also could be used for adults to cope with the loss of a pet.
Well written, emotional and beautifully illustrated. This is a must have to help children and adults deal with the loss of a pet.
I received a copy of this book through IRead book tours - all thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Dawn.
1,560 reviews20 followers
January 28, 2021
Dear Brave Friend is written for middle grade readers to help them deal with the loss of a pet. It shares all of the stages of grief and explains that these feelings are okay. It’s beautifully illustrated and is a great book for anyone of any age who is dealing with losing their pet.

At the end of the book are pages to draw pictures, prompts for writing to your pet, and places to put pictures of your pet with an area to explain the picture. These encourage the reader to deal with their grief by writing about their pet. The book also encourages talking to someone about their feelings.

I definitely recommend Dear Brave Friend for anyone who is grieving the loss of a beloved pet.
Profile Image for Laura.
3,205 reviews346 followers
January 8, 2021
Told in easily understood and relatable language, this book is a love letter of reassurance from a dear friend. It was written to help children deal with their feelings, but I believe that anyone who has lost a special friend can find comfort from the words and dream-like images.
The muted colors and soft edges on each page encourage the reader or listener to relax.
There is even a special surprise hidden within the images to find upon repeated enjoyment.


Profile Image for Lisa.
32 reviews2 followers
September 20, 2021
The book was a bit lengthy and detailed for my 6 and 3 year olds, but I share that more as just a heads up. I'd suggest you read it in chunks across a span of sittings if needed, based on your child's level of development. I really love that there's space at the end of the book where they can write letters to their beloved pet and/or draw photos of them. A very solid choice for children to help them process the loss!
Profile Image for The Pen & Muse.
194 reviews9 followers
February 5, 2021
Grek's Dear Brave Friend will tug at your heartstrings and make you cry. It's such a great book and can help children deal with a death of a pet. I think it's super important for children to have a sense of understanding when a pet passes and that they will always be with them. Just reading this myself was a beautiful reminder of the pets I've lost and I had to cry.  The illustrations are also beautiful and accompany the message very well. The lovely message that this shows children and adults alike. I highly recommend this book for children and also for adults!
Profile Image for Mary Walewski.
8 reviews14 followers
July 15, 2020
I loved this little book. Even adults who have lost a beloved pet can relate to this sweet story.
1,567 reviews26 followers
February 19, 2021
Dear Brave Friend is a much needed book for both kids and adults to have after loosing a pet. For those of us who have always had pets in our homes, we all know how they become an important part of our families. We have lost many dog furry friends that we miss dearly. We had one little black pomeranian for about 15 years. He and my son grew up together. People always told us we raised him to be human. And that’s how he acted. It broke our hearts in to when we had to put him to sleep. And now, my son and his wife have a little black chihuahua that’s the same way. That dog is as close to human as any, ever.
A book like this would have been helpful during those times we lost our furry friend. Of course we don’t know what really happens to them, but we need to read encouraging things to help us grieve.  I appreciate author Leigh Ann Gerk for writing this precious book. And the sweet illustrations by Trish Murtha are just perfect for each page of the story. I love the soft pastel colors that gives the calming feeling while you are reading this sweet book. If you, or someone you know has lost a pet recently, this is a perfect book to read. And why not keel one on hand to have for a gift when you need it?

A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Profile Image for Teresa (NingyoAi).
36 reviews10 followers
April 3, 2022
I cried so hard reading this book. It was like I was really reading a letter from my baby Bella. We did so many of these things together and it hurt to suddenly not doing it. But knowing that she's still here, encouraging me to continue to love, continue to be kind, just like how I was with her.
All I have to do is place my palm on my heart and feel the thump, thump, thump, and that's her tail wagging for me. She's telling me not to worry. That's she's truly okay where she is.
It's okay to miss her, and it's okay to cry.
I love you forever and ever Bella. ❤
Profile Image for Samantha.
1,551 reviews29 followers
April 16, 2023
What a beautiful book, and oh how it made me cry. But there was wisdom and a sense of peace to be found in the words.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.