A Heartfelt Picture Book About Grief, Remembrance, and Finding Strength in Community
Author: Evelyn Ortiz
Age range: 3+ years
Year: 2025
Explaining loss to a child is never easy. Especially when the person they’ve lost was someone they loved deeply and perhaps even imagined as a superhero.
Up, Up, Up follows young Eli after the loss of his beloved Uncle Bryan, also known as Honorary Chief Bryant Ortiz. Through Eli’s eyes, children experience the sadness and confusion that can come with losing someone special, but also the incredible support that surrounds him. Firetrucks, ambulances, helicopters, family, and community all become part of a powerful reminder that he doesn’t have to face his feelings alone.
I really liked that the story doesn’t focus only on sadness. There is pride in Uncle Bryan’s life and the legacy he left behind, along with those little moments of connection that help Eli begin to heal. Children are given space to express what they feel, talk to people they trust, and find meaningful ways to remember someone they love.
The story also shows something children sometimes need reminding of: grief doesn’t mean we stop loving someone. We can miss them terribly and still find moments of joy, connection, and hope.
Why you need this book
- Gives children gentle language for talking about loss
- Encourages emotional expression and connection
- Shows the importance of family and community support
- Celebrates a loved one’s life and legacy
- Helps children understand that grief can look different for everyone
- Opens conversations about remembrance and healing
- A meaningful choice for families, schools, and counselors
A Little Extra for Young Readers
There is also an Up, Activity Coloring Book, created by Evelyn Ortiz and Eli J. Medina as a companion to the story. It includes I Spy pages, word searches, connect-the-dots, drawing and writing activities, tracing vocabulary, and counting exercises up to 30.
If you enjoy Evelyn Ortiz’s books, you may also want to explore The Power of Me / El Poder de Mí, her bilingual English-Spanish story about confidence, affirmations, and the lasting power of loving words between parents and children.
Up, Up, Up is a tender choice for families talking about loss and remembrance, with a hopeful reminder that even during the hardest moments, love and community can help us find our way forward.
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