Sunday, March 26, 2023

Spring Reading 2023 Cooler than Lemonade: A Story about Great Ideas and How They Happen

 


Eva loves to make things and come up with new ideas. When a lemon bonks her on the head, she decides to beat the summer heat by setting up a lemonade stand. Things go well until a neighbor sets up a competing stand, then Eva puts her thinking cap back on to make improvements. If they offer lower prices, then she will offer a new flavor. If they add new flavors, then she will advertise. If... well, you get the idea. Just when it seems she will be driven out of business by the competition, her bother Aru reminds her, "You're happy when you make things." His request for a special snack inspires Eva to try once more and this time she finds the perfect solution to keep everyone happy.

Titles that feature girls as inventors and entrepreneurs are always a welcome addition to library and classroom collections. This book also features a brother and sister of Indian descent and their final product is a treat that is sold by street vendors in India, showing an alternative to the lemonade stands and ice cream trucks in typical summer stories. There is even a (no-cook) recipe for making kulfi at home after reading about Eva's great idea.

I enjoyed Eva's brainstorming with an actual thinking cap (a purple top hat), the way that she does product testing with family and friends, and the illustration of her bedroom with recipes and diagrams taped to the wall and craft supplies and tools all over the floor. It is obvious that the lemonade stand is not the first brainstorm she has had. This story would fit into units on summer, economics, perseverance, competition/cooperation and creativity. 

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