Dearie’s world is filled with animals. Milonga the sheepdog, Figaro and Fidelio the cats, Capenga the rabbit, Lenga-Lenga the tortoise, and Fuxica the bird are more than pets: they are her closest companions. When her parents decide to separate, these beloved animals become a source of comfort as she faces the uncertainty and sadness brought by a profound change in her family’s life.

Written by Cláudio Fragata, a journalist and children’s author whose childhood was spent surrounded by animals in the countryside of São Paulo, Dearie explores divorce and changing family dynamics with warmth, sensitivity, and emotional honesty. Rather than focusing solely on loss, the story highlights resilience, affection, and the different ways children process major life transitions. Supported by loving adults, especially her grandmother Olga, Dearie gradually learns that family bonds can remain strong even when family structures change.

Simone Matias’s illustrations enrich the narrative through expressive characters and a vivid visual universe shaped by imagination, music, and affection. Music itself plays a significant role in the story, inspiring the names of several animals and helping Dearie make sense of her emotions. The interplay of text and image creates a comforting reading experience that balances difficult themes with tenderness, humor, and hope. Through the friendship between a girl and her “animal family,” Dearie offers a heartfelt reflection on love, change, and the many forms a family can take.