Recommended Picture Book: Lemonade in Winter: A book about two kids counting money

Title: Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money

Author: Emily Jenkins

Illustrator: G. Brian Karas

Publisher: Shwartz and Wade Books; Sept, 11, 2012

Topic: Math: Counting Money, Siblings, Entrepreneurship, Winter

Age: 3-7

Opening: An empty street. Outside, a mean wind blows. Icicles hand from the windowsills.

Summary: Pauline and her little brother set out to sell lemonade, limeade and lemon-limeade on a cold, snow-filled, winter day, then they try to attract customers to their stand as Pauline adds up the money they make from sales.

Resources:
At the back of the book, the author includes a page that describes the different coins used in American currency and their values, pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.
Other activities include:
Learning about entrepreneurship.
Children can start their own lemonade stand.
Children will have fun learning about US coins with this online interactive activity.
Find fun Online Games that teaches young children how to count and use money.
Find money worksheet at Kids Learning Station.
Find more activities and worksheets at kids.gov.
Check out Club Kidpreneur for some hands on experience of creating a business.
For parents: a really great read about a mother's experience with her daughter creating different types of stands and step by step of each stage of the business. Math Activities: Lemonade Stand


Why I like the book:
This is a fun story with a lot of room for great curricular activities to enhance the reading and learning experience introduced in Lemonade in Winter. I love the idea that two children come up with a business plan and run with it despite all the well-wishing naysayers. With each challenge they face, the children come up with a solution to overcome it. But what I love most, is that at the end, the children do not make a profit, in fact they (Pauline) realize they actually lost money in their business venture, a real life lesson. Despite that, they enjoy their business and the eventual outcome by celebrating with popsicles (in the winter!)  :D  children are given the opportunity to learn about money and entrepreneurship without being bored 'cents-less' :D.