Common Sense Media Review
By Mandie Caroll
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Touching story captures besties' last day as neighbors.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
EVELYN DEL REY IS MOVING AWAY, but she calls for her best friend Daniela to come over and play, as if it's any normal day. The girls run upstairs and greet neighbors in the hallway, play bus driver with a moving box, and hide from parents. Reminders and thoughts of the big changes ahead intrude, but don't stop the girls from enjoying one another until the last possible minute, after the moving truck has roared away, and it's time for Evelyn to leave with her parents. The girls do their special handshake and hug real hard, and both cry as Evelyn departs, though the book ends on a hopeful note.
Is It Any Good?
This lovely book packs an emotional punch, and its beauty lies in many places. The words occasionally verge on the poetic, with poignant images, like a moving truck "with its mouth wide open… ready to gobble up" Evelyn's belongings and the girl's apartments being "almost twins, just like us." The scene as the girls' hold hands and spin in circles in Evelyn's empty apartment, and then fall to the ground with the world "still whirling" above them is enough to get adult readers sniffling. The pictures are full of bold colors layered on more neutral backgrounds, textured patterns, particular details, and expressive faces that capture the girl's sweet connection, as well as the diverse city they live in. The best friends' goodbye is heart-wrenching and full of tears, but the final page is likely to make readers smile through sadness. A reassuring pick for young readers who have experienced big changes with friends.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the friendship in Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away. What makes Evelyn and Daniela's friendship so special? What makes your friendships rewarding or fun?
Have you ever had a good friend move away or had some sort of big change in a friendship? How was it at first? How is it now? How can you be a good friend to someone you don't see everyday?
Talk about the how pictures and words relate. How do they reflect the girls' feelings throughout the day?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Sonia Sanchez
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Candlewick
- Publication date : September 8, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 5 - 7
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate