This is a self-help book in the genre of grief and loss. Poppa's Present is a glimpse into the mind of four-year-old Gabriel Carlos as he experiences death in his family for the first time. Remembering the good times he had with his grandfather, Poppa Walter, Gabriel processes his grief through memories and rituals. The cover of the book depicts an original cartoon by Poppa Walter. It symbolizes the theme of healing through keeping the memory of the deceased alive in the present. "Present" is used as a pun, meaning both present time and gift.