I write both fiction and nonfiction for kids and with Eat Bugs, I got to combine both loves.The book was inspired by two real-life female entrepreneurs, who literally cooked up an edible bug business in their college dorm room. After I watched them land a deal on Shark Tank, we met and I reimagined their story as if they’d started their business in sixth grade. I’ve always been fascinated by entrepreneurs who have the courage and tenacity to follow their dreams–no matter how wacky the idea may seem.
I wrote...
Eat Bugs: Project StartUp #1
By
Heather Alexander,
Laura D'Asaro,
Rose Wang
What is my book about?
When Hallie and Jaye are paired up as partners for a pitch competition held by their Business Education and Entrepreneurship class, it’s far from a perfect match. Jaye dreads working with Hallie, who everyone calls “Bug Girl” after she ate a fried cricket during a school trip to the zoo. Then she hears Hallie’s zany startup idea: finding creative ways to sell bugs as food. Eat bugs? No way! But maybe Hallie’s idea isn’t so wacky after all. It’s a great solution to food sustainability. And really healthy, too. In fact, eating bugs just may be their best shot at winning the school competition. And, more than anything, Jaye wants to win.
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The Books I Picked & Why
Chirp
By
Kate Messner
Why this book?
I’m a huge fan of Kate Messner’s writing, and this book hooked me with the title–and then I found out that it’s about a cricket farm! Bugtastic! Mia has just moved to Vermont so her family can be closer to her grandmother and suspects that someone is trying to sabotage her grandmother’s cricket farm. Can she find the culprit and help save the business? The book is a mystery but also a story of finding your voice.
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Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid
By
Mikaila Ulmer
Why this book?
I had so many lemonade stands when I was a kid but mine never became a million-dollar business (not even close!)! If only I’d had Mikaela’s book (and determination) back then... I loved her story of being a kid entrepreneur and her relatable advice for building a purpose-driven, bug-based company. Like the women my book Eat Bugs is based upon, Mikaela got a deal on Shark Tank too.
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J.D. and the Great Barber Battle
By
J. Dillard,
Akeem S. Roberts
Why this book?
Third-grader J.D. has the entrepreneurial and problem-solving spirit I adore. Great at cutting hair, he starts a barbershop in his bedroom! But when the town barbershop loses business because J.D’s charging less than they do, they challenge him to a barber battle. The story made me laugh out loud and cheer for J.D.
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Katie the Catsitter
By
Colleen Af Venable,
Stephanie Yue
Why this book?
In this purr-fectly irresistible graphic novel, twelve-year-old Katie wants to earn money so she can go to summer camp with her best friend and starts a catsitting business for her mysterious upstairs neighbor. The problem? The woman has 217 cats! And that’s not all...the cats have superpowers! And the neighbor may be a notorious supervillian! Talk about a tough job! I laughed, cheered, and crossed my fingers for Katie!
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Kristy's Great Idea: A Graphic Novel (the Baby-Sitters Club #1)
By
Ann M. Martin,
Raina Telgemeier
Why this book?
Who doesn’t love Kristy, Claudia, Mary Anne, and Stacey and their babysitting adventures? I was also an in-demand suburban babysitter when I was their age and I only wish I’d thought to join forces with my friends when I was scrambling for a new way to stop a kid from crying or fresh ideas to make bedtime fun. This is the ultimate best-friends-who-start-a-business book! And as a full-color graphic novel, the drama and the humor soar to new heights.
