The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing by Molly B. Burnham
Happy Thursday! I'm happy Molly B. Burham stopped by to share The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing and to finish my sentences. We chatted about Fanny Liem's illustrations, Jessica Jenkins' cover design, Dottie, Grandpa Walter, Chock Full O’ Nut, and more. Thank you, Molly!
Fanny Liem’s cover illustration and Jessica Jenkins' cover design for The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing makes me smile. (Especially the cat up in the letters.) But Dottie on the grass, so open and excited about what’s to come. Of course, kids go through many tough situations and yet I am amazed by the spirit that is organically them—even the most challenging kiddos have that spark.
The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing tells the story of Dottie and Grandpa Walter as they navigate (in sad and hilarious ways) through the death (not hilarious) of Ima (pronounced Eye-Muh) and who is Dottie’s Grandma and Grandpa Walter’s wife. The book is about questions, and beliefs, about what is true and what is false, and all the misunderstandings we muddle through as human beings.
Grandpa Walter is shy and clumsy and sad (or so Dottie thinks). He carries a can of Chock Full O’ Nuts everywhere he goes (and no, I will not say why). But Grandpa Walter is more than Dottie imagines from his ability as a cat-whisperer to his fake teeth to his favorite ice cream (and again, I will not say any more, you have to read the book to know all). Grandpa Walter is a mystery that opens up and reminds us to give people time.
Story is an invitation to explore.
John Schu, you should have asked me…Molly, how the heck could you write a funny book about grief? Why the Chock Full O’ Nuts can? And is the cat based on a cat you know?
Molly B. Burnham has been a dog walker, ice-cream scooper, and elementary school teacher. The author of the Teddy Mars series, she earned an MFA in children's writing from Hamline University and was the 2016 winner of The Sid Fleischman Award for Humor. Molly lives in Massachusetts with her family.
The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing tells the story of Dottie and Grandpa Walter as they navigate (in sad and hilarious ways) through the death (not hilarious) of Ima (pronounced Eye-Muh) and who is Dottie’s Grandma and Grandpa Walter’s wife. The book is about questions, and beliefs, about what is true and what is false, and all the misunderstandings we muddle through as human beings.
Story is an invitation to explore.
John Schu, you should have asked me…Molly, how the heck could you write a funny book about grief? Why the Chock Full O’ Nuts can? And is the cat based on a cat you know?
Ten-year-old Dottie Bing is a problem-solver and question-asker who is never more gleeful than when she’s encountering a new dilemma-- whether it’s her own, or someone else’s. But when her Grandpa Walter comes to stay (and stay, and stay!) he brings the biggest question that Dottie has ever encountered: How do you heal a broken heart?
You see, Grandpa Walter is grieving the loss of his beloved wife, Dottie's Grandma Ima. Even though she knows every solution starts with a question, for the first time in her life, Dottie isn't sure what to ask.
You see, Grandpa Walter is grieving the loss of his beloved wife, Dottie's Grandma Ima. Even though she knows every solution starts with a question, for the first time in her life, Dottie isn't sure what to ask.
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