I received an electronic ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group through NetGalley.
Dottie doesn't know how to handle her grief after her grandmother's death. She knows she has several animals running around in her stomach and she tries to ignore them. When her grandpa comes to visit, he bring Ima's ashes with him. This makes the animals even more agitated. She escapes by playing a Truth or Fake game with her best friend, Sam, and then by deciding to build a treehouse. When a new friend joins in, the three of them brainstorm ways to make Dottie feel better. Readers see them implement their ideas and create even more chaos. They also see that all three - Dottie, Sam, Miles - have major changes in their lives, and all three need to find coping skills. This will resonate with upper elementary level readers as they look at their own lives and find connections. The description of the animals is powerful as Dottie describes each and what it does.
Burnham offers a lighter look at grief and other changes while offering readers affirmation that their feelings are okay and accepted.

A wonderful heartwarming book about loss, grief, and family when we find Grandpa Walter coming to stay with Dottie’s family after Grandma Ima dies. Grandpa Walter always carries around Ima’s ashes in a can, and Dottie sees him read to the can and play cards with the can. Dottie gets her best fried Sam to help her build a treehouse because Ima always wanted one. When their new friend, Miles, helps them build it, Dottie doesn’t feel as happy as she thought she would. What’s missing? Something happens and when Dottie comes home from school and finds Grandpa Walter in the treehouse, he tells Dottie that that “we can’t find happiness without also feeling sadness.” Dottie realizes we all need time because we can’t ignore our feelings.