Good-Bye, Sheepie — Robert Burleigh

Owen and his dog, Sheepie, are best friends. They like to play, take long walks, and chase each other in the yard. But Sheepie is getting old. He can't fetch a stick as quickly as he used to, and sometimes Owen has to help him climb the stairs. Then one afternoon, Sheepie falls asleep by the big oak tree and doesn't wake up. Owen has to part with his old pal, but his father helps him understand that Sheepie will always be part of their happy memories. With warm, gentle watercolor-and-gouache illustrations, this story teaches children about the feelings they have relating to the loss of a beloved family pet.