Cooler than Lemonade

December 15, 2022
An entrepreneurial young girl of South Asian descent draws inspiration from her cultural heritage. It's summer, so Eva decides to set up a lemonade stand. After all, her head is always "swirling with ideas." But competition arrives in the form of her neighbor Jake. Resourceful Eva comes up with new ideas (special flavors, flyers to spread the word), but nothing seems to work--Jake is always one step ahead of her. Despondent, Eva gives up, but when her little sibling, Aru, asks her to make kulfi, a frozen, milk-based treat, she's struck once more by inspiration...and, this time, moved by the collaborative spirit. The text makes heavy use of repetition (each idea "snaps," "sizzles," and "sprouts!"). The digital illustrations are engaging, especially the little details scattered around Eva's household and neighborhood, and the layout is reader-friendly; this one should make for an immersive read-aloud that will have readers impressed by Eva's perseverance and can-do spirit. A note from Jerath explains that kulfi is often sold by street vendors in India during the summer; an appended recipe lets intrepid readers try their own hand at whipping it up. Jake is light-skinned; the neighborhood is diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Sure to encourage budding young business owners to follow the protagonist's example. (Picture book. 4-6)

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February 15, 2023
Grades K-2 One sizzling hot summer day, Eva and her little brother Aru set up a lemonade stand. It's an instant success, attracting many thirsty customers. Eva takes great care to make the best lemonade she can but has to scramble when her neighbor Jake starts his own lemonade business. The competition is fierce, and Eva tries innovation after innovation, trying to keep up, but finally has to admit defeat and sadly closes shop. Her little brother asks her to make him something, because that's when Eva seems happiest. Eva sets about whipping up a batch of kulfi, a type of frozen dessert from India (recipe included). Inspiration strikes: Why not set up a kulfi stand, but this time in partnership with Jake? Brown-skinned Eva is portrayed as a problem solver, meeting challenge after challenge by pondering, experimenting, and trying new possibilities. The whimsical illustrations highlight Eva's thought processes, showing how her new ideas snap, sizzle, and sprout. The book is a visual treat (be sure to check out the endpapers), and the message about persevering is inspiring.

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