Hippo-like animal Elba is weighted down by a big black block that she drags behind her everywhere. When she meets effervescent reptile Norris, he helps her to talk about the loss of a friend, and the block gets smaller and lighter. Ramírez González's bright mixed-media illustrations bring hope to this useful parable about the burden of sadness and the importance of sharing feelings with supportive friends.

Cheerful green alligator Norris attempts to befriend Elba, a pink hippo burdened by a mysterious black block. Norris may initially appear to be a suspiciously friendly predator, but, as evidenced by the cloud of butterflies that accompanies him everywhere, he is genuinely considerate. He finds Elba sitting on her block in the park and invites her on a picnic, then continues to check in with her after she declines. Elba is surprised when Norris joins her in sitting on her block, telling her he feels "something [sad] in there" and that "it wants to come out." "Maybe tomorrow," he says after they sit in silence each day. With Norris' patient encouragement—observe his hopeful smile as they drink tea in the rain!—Elba soon agrees to visit the ocean with him, though she doubts she can make it that far with her block: "It's too heavy….Right?" she asks, which he does not deny, instead responding, "My butterflies and I will help you." As they slowly walk to the ocean, Elba finally opens up to Norris about the deep sadness her block represents. His empathetic response and its surprising result demonstrate the power of patience, listening, and simply showing up when loved ones are navigating difficult emotions. Ramírez's illustrations, done in a combination of traditional and digital media, utilize bright, textured colors, simple rounded shapes, and subtle yet eloquent facial expressions to sweetly emphasize the characters' emotional journey.A poignant exploration of depression, grief, and friendship. (Picture book. 3-8)

Norris the alligator is optimism personified: he-s so upbeat that a cloud of fluttering butterflies surrounds him wherever he goes. Elba, a pink hippo, couldn-t be more different: she spends her days sitting on a big black block. (-Is it fun?- asks Norris. -Not really. No,- Elba replies.) With Norris-s gentle prodding and willingness to befriend her as she is, Elba reveals that she is mourning the loss of her dear friend, Little Bird (-She taught me to sing. We were hardly ever apart-), and the box gradually shrinks-not disappearing altogether, but growing small enough for Elba to move through the world again, in the company of her new friend. Agell doesn-t make the friendship a teachable moment for irrepressible Norris. He seems to instinctively know how to help his new pal without encroaching on her emotional boundaries; his patient demeanor and her quiet emergence become the story-s narrative. Ramirez-s sunny digitized watercolors echo this hopeful mood with a lightness and energy. Ages 4-8. Author-s agent: Edite Kroll, Edite Kroll Literary Agency. (Mar.)