Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away

Daniela, the little girl narrating this book, begins by telling readers, “Evelyn Del Rey is my mejor amiga, my número uno best friend.”

Every day they play together. Daniela explains, “We are mostly the same, just like our apartments. But not after today.” A truck has come to take away all the Del Rey’s things; they are moving. The girls reassure one another:

“‘We can talk every day after school,’ I tell her . . . ‘and you can visit me this summer,’ she says. And spend the night!’”

But Daniela knows that everything will be different from then on:

“Evelyn Del Rey is moving away.
So she won’t be right here anymore.”

Daniela’s mama tells her not to be sad, that they will both make new friends. But Daniela says show more to herself:

“I know she will always be my first mejor amiga, my número uno best friend . . .”

The last panel shows Daniela as an older girl, smiling over a letter, presumably from Evelyn.

Illustrations by Sonia Sánchez are vividly colored and full of movement. The lines are simple, but emotions are clearly limned.

Evaluation: What can compare to the close friendship of two little girls, or the feelings that ensue when one of them must move away? This book, intended for ages 4-7, captures both of those aspects of life with skill and compassion, and ends on a hopeful note that relationships don’t have to be lost just because someone is moving away. show less

Evelyn and Daniela are "almost twins," and so are their apartments. Evelyn invites Daniela over to play, "just like today is any other day," but it isn't - "not after today." A moving truck "with its mouth wide open" waits, "ready to gobble up Evelyn's mirror with the stickers around the edge," and too soon it is time for a last photo together, a last hug, a last secret handshake. Each girl presses a sparkly sticker to the other's cheek, and both cry as they separate. "Evelyn Del Rey is moving away. So she won't be right here anymore." Parents offer comfort - brown-skinned Daniela lives with her Mami, darker-skinned Evelyn with her Mami and Papi - and the final page-turn shows an older Daniela reading one of many letters from Evelyn, show more proving that the two remained each other's "mejor amigas, numero uno best friends."

I have yet to read this book - silently or aloud - without tearing up.

The autumn-toned art is full of detail, from the girls' movements and expressions to the interiors of their buildings. show less

Daniela describes her last, glorious day with her best friend, her mejor amiga, Evelyn, before she moves from across the street. A beautiful tribute to a best friend, their special bond, and city apartment life. Text and illustrations are equally moving.

A new book with a friend moving away theme. It's worth checking out from the library, but it doesn't replace the old standards. The art is good, and illustrates the story well, and the friendship even better. The weakness is the ending. Children drawn to a book about moving (and less so, about friendship), need more time to process the "staying in touch" after moving. Although the final single picture of an adult Daniela makes sense to an adult, it doesn't carry the story as well for a child.

I love this bittersweet story about best friends. Evelyn and Daniela try very hard to pretend that this is an ordinary day – but it is not, Evelyn is moving away. The beautiful illustrations capture their neighborhood in the Fall and apartments with bright, vivid colors and patterns. This book is a wonderful tribute to friendship – the words and pictures convey all of the fun, secrets, comfort, and giggles best friends can share.

The story has characters of color and features Spanish language – but the theme is friendship. It is nice to see a picture book with diversity that is not explicitly about race, but addresses other childhood themes. Highly recommend!

For an adult, this book is different than it is for a kid. For me, all the times moving and saying goodbye. The empty house where so many memories were built and fun times shared. The empty room of the kid grown and married soon repurposed to another need. The waves, tears in eyes to know the hugs will be long-distance and virtual. And of the friendship built in 6th grade still flourishing today, almost 60 years later. Today I miss my Evelyn del Rey. Do you miss yours? Silly me. The book made me cry. The celebrations of friendships, the sorrows of missing those who have gone on.

K-Gr 4—Part friendship tale, part meditation on grief, but, mostly, a love story—two BIPOC girls face the unbearable
loss of one of them moving away. The storytelling has the spare emotional weight of Ezra Jack Keats's work, and
the details affirm the depth of feelings they share.