Just as good the second time. Love the evolution of friendship and the reconsideration of priorities our hero goes through in his quest for the mighty dollar. Swimming Pool is the best.

A funny read for kids about an enterprising young man who seeks to make a fortune on pet funerals.

A quirky little book about a boy about my age trying to make money! His funny little money making ideas make for entertaining reading. for example my favourite idea of his was the fast buck hamburger where he bought 30 cheap hamburgers and sold them at lunch for $3 each! hmmm maybe I should try that!

Listened to the full cast audio book on a long car ride with the kids. The characters were fairly endearing.

It took me a long time to finish this book. I loved how the kids talked and acted like grown-ups.
Such a sweet short story with memorable characters. A great book overall.

I read this a long time ago -- and remembered it fondly. So I was glad when I came across it again in the bargain bin at my local bookstore. The title of the book is what first grabbed my attention, since it is backwards from what is usually said.

SUMMARY: Ernie is a twelve-year-old tycoon always looking for the next big business opportunity. This time he stumbles onto a very creative adventure: pet funerals. He hires Dusty who repurposes items into burial boxes and then employees Swimming Pool, a tomboy who can cry on cue.

Ernie is a great business man but not a great boss. He has to learn how to treat his employees who are also friends. He also has to keep the business a secret from his father who is tired of his schemes and has promised to ground him if he did it again.

The creativity of the burial boxes and Dusty's knack of creating the right box for the right pet. I wish there had been more pictures of the boxes included.

There is an underlining story of grief -- a single father raising his son the best he can and they are both still grieving for the mother. There is also the mother's dog, Mister Doggie, who is getting older and is the only thing that reminds them of her. There is also Swimming Pool and her older brother who runs away from home and who she worries about and tries to help in secret.

“Sometimes, children glow inside.”

“It’s never too late to stand up for yourself!”

Enjoy this immersive audiobook narrated by Doug Cooley, starring a variety of male and female voices that bring Ernie and his friends to life!

Also read if you love middle grade stories about friendship and pets that are funny and heartfelt. :)

very cute!

funny, entertaining, and easy to read. As unrealistic as the business might be, it's still a good story about friendship.

A fun audiobook about a group of kids who set up a pet funeral business which grows into craziness. Undertones of deeper issues of loss, friendship, and death along with plenty of hilarity. Good for a roadtrip.

Ernie is the face of capitalism

While reading the first chapter or two, I wasn't sure this book could hold my attention, but it somehow gripped me completely. I became lost in the fun and challenges in this charming story and even shed a tear or two at the end. A complete delight.