Walk with Me

A deceptively simple, imaginative story depicting the complex emotional reality of a girl whose father no longer lives at home.

The girl conjures up an imaginary companion, a lion, who will come with her on the long walk home from school. He will help her to pick up her baby brother from daycare and shop at the store (which has cut off the family’s credit), and he’ll keep her company all along the way until she is safe at home. He will always come back when she needs him, unlike the father whom she sees only in a photograph — a photograph in which he clearly resembles a lion.

Jairo Buitrago is a children’s book author who has collaborated with Rafael Yockteng on several award-winning picture books, including Jimmy the Greatest! (which received six starred reviews) and Two White Rabbits (which has received one starred review). Together, Jairo Buitrago and Rafael Yockteng have won the A la Orilla del Viento contest (Fondo de Cultura Económica de México), and their books have been included in IBBY’s Honor List, Los mejores libros del año (Venezuela’s Banco del Libro), Kirkus Best Books, the Horn Book Fanfare and the White Ravens Catalogue. He lives in Columbia.

Rafael Yockteng has illustrated many highly acclaimed children’s books, including Sopa de frijoles / Bean Soup by Jorge Argueta (USBBY Outstanding International Books), and Jimmy the Greatest! (which received six starred reviews) and Two White Rabbits (which has received one starred review) by Jairo Buitrago. Together, Jairo Buitrago and Rafael Yockteng have won the A la Orilla del Viento contest (Fondo de Cultura Económica de México), and their books have been included in IBBY’s Honor List, Los mejores libros del año (Venezuela’s Banco del Libro), Kirkus Best Books, the Horn Book Fanfare and the White Ravens Catalogue. He lives in Columbia.