November 28, 2022
Ten-year-old Dottie Bing processes grief surrounding her grandmother Ima’s death in this earnest novel by Burnham (the Teddy Mars series). Following Ima’s passing, Dottie’s mission of building a tree house to honor her (“She told me how she was sure that if there was a tree house to play in, she would have been the happiest kid in the world,” Dottie says) is interrupted by her grandfather Walter’s sudden decision to stay with Dottie and her parents. Dottie feels that Walter’s grief is something she needs to fix, believing that if she can make him happy, “everything will be perfect.” She endeavors to figure out a new plan with her trans friend Sam, who’s working through complicated feelings regarding his mother’s pregnancy, and cantankerous neighbor Miles, who’s navigating uncertainty amid his parents’ divorce. Tender b&w illustrations by Liem artfully depict the youths’ adventures. As Dottie learns more about her grandfather and works through her own feelings of loss—which manifest as metaphorical “animals” churning in her stomach—she maintains a curious, constantly questioning attitude. Through Dottie’s evolving, conciliatory relationship with grief-stricken Walter, Burnham conjures a warm and compassionate tale about myriad paths toward healing. Characters read as white. Ages 8–12.
December 1, 2022
Gr 3-7-Burnham has crafted a delightful story about grief and the joy of friendship featuring 10-year-old Dottie Bing. Recently widowed Grandpa Walter comes to stay with Dottie, her parents, her four-year-old sister, Jazzy, and MacFurry, their spunky cat. While Dottie mourns the loss of Grandmother Ima, her neighborhood friends are dealing with their own challenges. Miles's parents are getting divorced, and Sam's mom is having a baby. Their group project of building a tree house brings them all together to deal with their feelings in a genuine and communal way. Sparse but appealing black-and-white illustrations help bring the dazzling cast of characters to life, and humor is infused in all the right places so the plot never feels too heavy (the lunch monitor Mr. Park who goes by "Mr. Shark" because, "I never stop moving, and I'm always watching you," is an especially fun addition). The characters appear white; readers learn that Sam is trans, but it's not part of the primary arc. VERDICT An endearing story about grief and friendship that will resonate with readers. Recommended for public and elementary school libraries where realistic fiction is popular.-Carrie Voliva
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
March 1, 2023
Ten-year-old Dottie's treehouse-construction plans are interrupted when Grandpa Walter shows up at the family's front door, a Chock full o'Nuts coffee can in tow. Mourning the recent loss of Dottie's grandma, Grandpa Walter now consoles himself by talking to her via the Chock full o'Nuts can. Soon both Grandpa and the can have taken up long-term residence in Dottie's room (and changed the wall color). Dottie endures this disruption bravely, trying to emulate her beloved grandmother, but the situation causes what already feels like a menagerie of animals inside her to grow (an alligator soon joined by a porcupine, an octopus, and a kangaroo). Dottie's friend Sam, with his extensive vocabulary, and their antagonist-turned-friend Miles are going through personal struggles too: Sam's mom is having a new baby, and Miles's parents are getting divorced. By joining forces, they each find their way by questioning everything, trying to create space for themselves (primarily through the ambitious treehouse project), and helping one another along -- sometimes effectively and sometimes slightly less so. Dottie's realistic inner emotional journey contrasts well with her more whimsical day-to-day antics. Though centered in processing grief and change, the short, question-titled chapters filled with humor, quirkiness, and spot illustrations create a warm and buoyant story of family and friendship. Julie Roach
(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
Starred review from October 15, 2022
A child deals with loss. When 10-year-old Dottie Bing's Grandpa Walter shows up at her house, he is carrying a Chock full o' Nuts coffee can and his suitcase. He is there to visit after the death of Dottie's grandma Ima. Dottie soon realizes Grandpa Walter goes everywhere with the coffee can, which is filled with Ima's ashes. He brings it to the kitchen, where he pours two cups of coffee; he reads out loud to it; and he plays cards with it. Dottie is puzzled, but she is dealing with her grief in her own way--building a treehouse, because Ima always wanted one. Her best friend, Sam, is excited to help in this mission--a word Dottie knows Sam will like, since he loves using complex vocabulary, introduced throughout (which readers will delight in learning and using). Tucked into this brilliant mix of a plot is Miles, an unfriendly boy who is always making fun of Sam and Dottie, and Dottie's younger sister, Jazzy, a force of nature in a 4-year-old body. As Dottie and Sam build the treehouse, Dottie focuses on all the animals in her stomach--an effective, original metaphor for her churned-up feelings of grief and change. Embellished with black-and-white illustrations, this surprisingly humorous story has narrative details that fold seamlessly into the overall plot while cleverly enriching it. Most characters read as White in the artwork; Sam is trans. Profound in its own sparkling, humorous way. (Fiction. 8-10)
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January 1, 2023
Ten-year-old Dottie's treehouse-construction plans are interrupted when Grandpa Walter shows up at the family's front door, a Chock full o'Nuts coffee can in tow. Mourning the recent loss of Dottie's grandma, Grandpa Walter now consoles himself by talking to her via the Chock full o'Nuts can. Soon both Grandpa and the can have taken up long-term residence in Dottie's room (and changed the wall color). Dottie endures this disruption bravely, trying to emulate her beloved grandmother, but the situation causes what already feels like a menagerie of animals inside her to grow (an alligator soon joined by a porcupine, an octopus, and a kangaroo). Dottie's friend Sam, with his extensive vocabulary, and their antagonist-turned-friend Miles are going through personal struggles too: Sam's mom is having a new baby, and Miles's parents are getting divorced. By joining forces, they each find their way by questioning everything, trying to create space for themselves (primarily through the ambitious treehouse project), and helping one another along -- sometimes effectively and sometimes slightly less so. Dottie's realistic inner emotional journey contrasts well with her more whimsical day-to-day antics. Though centered in processing grief and change, the short, question-titled chapters filled with humor, quirkiness, and spot illustrations create a warm and buoyant story of family and friendship.
(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)