Lemonade in Winter

Starred review from July 30, 2012
Pauline and her little brother, John-John, are convinced that a stand selling “Lemonade and limeade—and also lemon-limeade!” will go over big, even in the middle of a bitter winter. Mom and Dad think not. But their sheer chutzpah and salesmanship (“Lemon lemon LIME, lemon LEMONADE!/ All that it will cost ya? Fifty cents a cup!”) eventually earn the duo... well, maybe not a profit, but enough for two Popsicles. The book’s clinical subtitle is a major understatement: Jenkins (Toys Come Home) and Karas (Neville) have created a book that’s richly rewarding in many ways. Yes, there are some lightly proffered money-counting lessons, but this is also a beautifully restrained tribute to trust and tenderness shared by siblings; an entrepreneurship how-to that celebrates the thrill of the marketplace without shying away from its cold realities; and a parable about persistence. Moreover, it’s visually gorgeous: Karas employs an impressive repertoire of textures and a broad palette of grays and browns to convey both the icy chill and cozy interiors of winter. In real money terms, this one’s an amazing bargain. Ages 3–7.