Chloe and Marbles are best friends. But one day, Marbles gets sick.  Chloe and her mother take Marbles to the vet, but Marbles is old and in a lot of pain, and the vet cannot save him.  After Marbles dies, Chloe feels like the whole world changes. She feels like it might have been her fault.  She doesn't think she will ever feel better.  She doesn't know who she will play with now.

Thiel's new book, Chloe Loses Her Pet, addresses these issues and the feelings of being mad, sad and jealous that children may feel when they suffer such a loss.  Her advice on ways to make a child feel better are right on; talk about it with someone you trust, share your feelings and stories about your pet with your friends in a memorial, perhaps make a scrapbook.

In the story, Chloe gets a new puppy, though Thiel advises not to get a new pet too soon. Pages in the back of the book are filled with things to do when you lose a pet, and things to remember.

The comforting text, along with the bright, whimsical illustrations appeal to children.  This would be a great bedtime story or family time story to start conversations about life and death, and a good addition to your library.