New Children’s Book Explores Life After Death Through a Playful Lens

A new children’s book titled And They Walk On delves into the profound question of where loved ones go after death. Authored by Kevin Maillard, known for his previous work Fry Bread, the book addresses the emotional landscape surrounding loss through the eyes of a young boy grappling with the death of his grandmother.

Maillard’s journey began two years ago following the death of his mother. While cleaning her home, he found himself contemplating her absence. “I was really thinking about this a lot when I was cleaning her house out,” he recalled. “She has all of her objects there and there’s like hair that’s still in the brush or there is an impression of her lipstick on a glass.” This confusion inspired him to write a story that reflects on the ongoing influence of those who have passed.

Through the narrative, the little boy wonders, “When someone walks on, where do they go?” His imagination takes him to whimsical places, such as a market filled with green melons or a garden where saplings become towering sequoias. This perspective is rooted in Maillard’s background; he grew up in Oklahoma and is an enrolled member of the Seminole Nation. In many Native communities, the phrase “walked on” is commonly used to describe death, presenting it as a continuation rather than an end.

The illustrations for And They Walk On were created by Mexican artist Rafael López, who resonates with the story on both cultural and personal levels. López reflects, “‘Walking on’ reminds me so much of the Day of the Dead.” He lost his father 35 years ago, yet continues to celebrate his memory by sharing stories and playing music he loved. “So he walks with us every day, wherever we go,” he said.

López decided to depict the story from a child’s perspective, making the protagonist a young version of Maillard himself. “I thought, we need to have Kevin because, you know, he’s pretty darn cute,” he humorously noted. His artistic process involved starting with pencil sketches and then working digitally, while all textures were created by hand using materials like acrylics and watercolors.

As the story unfolds, the initial muted colors transition to brighter hues as the boy recalls memories of his grandmother. López elaborated, “In Mexico, we celebrate things very much with color, whether you’re eating very colorful food or you go to the market.” This vivid use of color is aimed at expressing emotions tied to memory and loss.

One poignant illustration shows the boy and his parents packing up his grandmother’s belongings. The earthy, green tones of the scene are contrasted by the bright apron hanging in the kitchen, symbolizing the grandmother’s lasting presence. López encourages readers to notice such details, prompting them to reflect on the significance of color and connection.

Maillard shared that when he first received the finished book, he found it difficult to open. “I couldn’t look at it,” he admitted, his voice filled with emotion. He was taken aback by the warmth that López’s illustrations brought to the topic of death. “He’s very magical realist in his illustrations,” Maillard explained. The imagery, while not entirely joyful, possesses a whimsical quality that offers hope.

As Maillard concluded, “There’s this promise that these people, they don’t go away. They’re still with us… and we can see that their lives had meaning because they touched another person.” This message is at the heart of And They Walk On, creating a space for children to explore the complexities of grief and memory in a gentle and imaginative way.