Why am I passionate about this?

I have never picked a peck of pickles, but I have been a crossing guard, pet-sitter, and professional gift-wrapper. I’ve worked in department stores, banks, libraries, colleges, and even a middle school cafeteria. Every job has taught me about the value of hard work, allowed me to pursue a passion, and inspired me to connect with all kinds of people. My current job - picture book author - is my favorite! I write to empower and inspire readers with new ideas and encourage them, like my characters, to succeed by maintaining a positive attitude and a growth mindset!


I wrote

Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle

By Cathy Ballou Mealey, Kelly Collier (illustrator),

Book cover of Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle

What is my book about?

Slow, sleepy Sloth and speedy, spunky Squirrel want to buy a tandem bicycle so they can go fast on fun…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

The books I picked & why

Book cover of Lemonade in Winter: A Book about Two Kids Counting Money

Cathy Ballou Mealey Why did I love this book?

This sister-brother duo decides to earn money by having a lemonade stand, but how can they make their venture a success on an icy winter day? Advertising, entertainment, and a supportive neighborhood all come into play, but what will happen if the two don’t turn a profit? This sweet, citrusy book is especially engaging for kids learning coin values and addition.  

By Emily Jenkins, G. Brian Karas (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Lemonade in Winter as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, 5, and 6.

What is this book about?

A lemonade stand in winter? Yes, that's exactly what Pauline and John-John intend to have, selling lemonade and limeade--and also lemon-limeade. With a catchy refrain (Lemon lemon LIME, Lemon LIMEADE! Lemon lemon LIME, Lemon LEMONADE!), plus simple math concepts throughout, here is a read-aloud that's great for storytime and classroom use, and is sure to be a hit among the legions of Jenkins and Karas fans.

"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." —Publishers…


Book cover of Dirt Cheap

Cathy Ballou Mealey Why did I love this book?

Birdie really wants a special soccer ball, the XR1000 Super Extreme. She starts selling dirt at 25 cents per bag, and soon has plenty of customers. While she does earn enough to buy the ball, she inadvertently creates a big problem. She has no yard left for playing soccer! What can she sell next in order to buy new soil for her lawn? This determined, creative soccer star’s story will inspire readers to persevere and amend for any oversights in their entrepreneurial ventures.

By Mark Hoffmann,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Dirt Cheap as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A young entrepreneur sets out to earn some money and discovers the value of a dollar (and of dirt)! Perfect for fans of Lemonade in Winter, The Most Magnificent Thing, and Rosie Revere, Engineer.

Birdie doesn't know much about money. All she knows is that she wants a new soccer ball that costs $24.95. The fastest way to that $24.95 is going into sales, but what to sell?

All her belongings?
Not much of a market for those.

Birdie needs something that she has in abundance and that everyone needs. So when she sees everyone in her neighborhood working on…


Book cover of Splat the Cat Gets a Job!

Cathy Ballou Mealey Why did I love this book?

When Splat gets a newspaper delivery job, he finds it isn’t easy work! From getting up early and not hitting the snooze button, to tossing the papers accurately onto each neighbor’s doorstep, Splat struggles to succeed. Splat’s good friend Kitten helps him invent solutions for each and every challenge, and their teamwork ultimately saves the day. This easy reader encourages kids to ask for help and find solutions to their problems while still getting the job done.

By Rob Scotton,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Splat the Cat Gets a Job! as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 6, 7, 8, and 9.

What is this book about?

You know Splat the Cat from his bestselling picture books and phonics fun in Level One readers. Now get ready to graduate with Splat into Level Two readers!

This all-new I Can Read features splat-tastic inventions as Splat tries his paw at a new job—newspaper cat.

Splat is so excited to be the new newspaper cat! But getting up super early, keeping track of all those papers, and delivering to all those houses sure isn’t as easy as it looks. With help from Kitten, and some cool inventions, can Splat figure out how to toss papers like a pro?

Splat…


Book cover of Vinny Gets a Job

Cathy Ballou Mealey Why did I love this book?

Vinny the dog is determined to find the perfect job in the big city. But washing dishes in a restaurant doesn’t mean licking the plates, watering the florist’s plants isn’t done by lifting his leg, and guarding the dinosaur bones at the museum doesn’t mean holding them in his teeth! Despite his initial errors, Vinny does find a job that is just right. Filled with humor, this book is also terrific for introducing map reading skills as Vinny crisscrosses the city.

By Terry Brodner,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Vinny Gets a Job as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

The Secret Life of Pets meets Amelia Bedelia in this witty and sweet debut picture book about an overly-literal pup trying his paw at several different jobs and the hilarious mishaps that ensue.

When Vinny the dog decides he should get a job to contribute to his family, he knows exactly what to do. He puts on his best suit and his sharpest hat, picks up his briefcase, and hits the pavement. Vinny isn't completely sure what a job is, but with his can-do attitude, he's sure he can figure it out.

But it's a dog-eat-dog world, and Vinny's silly…


Book cover of What Does It Mean to Be an Entrepreneur?

Cathy Ballou Mealey Why did I love this book?

This book introduces the concept of entrepreneurship by encouraging kids to act as creative problem-solvers. Rae is inspired to invent a dog cleaning techno-solution after witnessing a sticky spill. Simple text with a story told in pictures, this is an upbeat resource for the youngest Shark Tank fans, focusing on the curiosity, courage, and risk-taking components necessary for a new business to succeed.

By Rana Diorio, Emma D. Dryden, Ken Min (illustrator)

Why should I read it?

1 author picked What Does It Mean to Be an Entrepreneur? as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

Part of the award-winning What Does It Mean to Be...? series, What Does It Mean to Be an Entrepreneur? is a marvelous introduction for children of all ages to the concept of entrepreneurship and creativity.

Being an entrepreneur means...
Following your dream
Loving to learn and being curious
Taking risks

Celebrated by Co-Founder of Ben & Jerry's, Jerry Greenfield, What Does It Mean to Be an Entrepreneur? is a book that "Inspires young dreamers to find the courage to be doers."

When Rae witnesses an ice cream-and-doggie mishap, she's inspired to create a big-scale solution to wash dogs. Rae draws…


Explore my book 😀

Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle

By Cathy Ballou Mealey, Kelly Collier (illustrator),

Book cover of Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle

What is my book about?

Slow, sleepy Sloth and speedy, spunky Squirrel want to buy a tandem bicycle so they can go fast on fun adventures together. But the fancy bike is expensive! The two loveable, unlikely friends get jobs to earn bike money, but find they need lots of pickle packing practice. Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle celebrates teamwork and ingenuity, offering many opportunities to discuss perseverance and growth mindset with humor and heart.

Book cover of Lemonade in Winter: A Book about Two Kids Counting Money
Book cover of Dirt Cheap
Book cover of Splat the Cat Gets a Job!

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,355

readers submitted
so far, will you?

You might also like...

The Curiosity Cycle: Preparing Your Child for the Ongoing Technological Explosion

By Jonathan Mugan,

Book cover of The Curiosity Cycle: Preparing Your Child for the Ongoing Technological Explosion

Jonathan Mugan Author Of The Curiosity Cycle: Preparing Your Child for the Ongoing Technological Explosion

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Jonathan's 3 favorite reads in 2024

What is my book about?

The Curiosity Cycle is a book for parents and educators who want to teach their children to be active explorers of the world. Learning through curiosity leads to adaptive thinking because your child is continually trying to improve his or her understanding of the world, and new facts and ideas become embedded in the knowledge that your child already has. Curiosity will also enrich your child's life because curiosity-based learning is internally directed and intrinsically motivated.

Our world is rapidly changing, and our children must be able to filter the cacophony of voices in cyberspace to stay true to their…

The Curiosity Cycle: Preparing Your Child for the Ongoing Technological Explosion

By Jonathan Mugan,

What is this book about?

Through curiosity, children carve out concepts from the environment that they assemble into models to describe the world. Children then test those models to see how well they predict what they observe, and they use the results from those experiments to form new concepts and models---leading to the next round of the curiosity cycle. However, our children are more than passive observers. They are an embodied part of the world and have brains that are predisposed to see the environment in particular ways. To get the most from their curiosity, children must build models about the intentions of those around…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in entrepreneurs, winter, and dogs?

Entrepreneurs 314 books
Winter 23 books
Dogs 426 books