Celebrating Bentley

There is no feeling quite as heartwarming as a dog’s love. This book takes the reader on a journey, exploring the compassion and understanding associated with caring for an aging dog, losing a beloved pet, demonstrating how siblings can grieve very differently, and finally, celebrating the life and beautiful memories that they have in their heart for their beloved pet, Bentley.

Joey, the energized, athletic older brother, internalizes his sadness for his best friend, Bentley, while his charismatic younger sister, Lily, easily verbalizes her feelings and emotions. This book shows the importance of family and how vital it is to support and be there for one another while recognizing that everyone grieves differently. Mom is supportive and encourages dialogue with her children to help them process their grief. She discusses and supports her children’s feelings with love, compassion, and a beautiful gesture that ultimately allows the family to move through their grief with ease and to find joy in celebrating the life of their beloved pet.



About the Author



After thirteen years of using picture books as teaching tools to promote fruitful discussions with captivated audiences of elementary students, Dana is thrilled to debut her own! She was inspired to write this book when her beloved dog of fifteen years passed, and she struggled to find a relevant picture book that was easily relatable and that fostered dialogue with her daughters regarding death. She hopes that Celebrating Bentley will support families through the grieving process and encourage the discussion of feelings. Dana has two emotional support dogs who regularly spread joy and love to residents at the local nursing home. She lives in Connecticut with her two daughters and three dogs.