Why am I passionate about this?

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

Project Startup

By Heather Alexander, Laura D'Asaro, Rose Wang

Book cover of Project Startup

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…

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 Chirp

Heather Alexander Why did I love 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.

By Kate Messner,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Chirp as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 10, 11, 12, and 13.

What is this book about?

"[A] deftly layered mystery about family, friendship, and the struggle to speak up." - Laurie Halse Anderson, bestselling author of Speak and Shout

From acclaimed author Kate Messner comes the powerful story of a young girl with the courage to make her voice heard, set against the backdrop of a summertime mystery.

When Mia moves to Vermont the summer after seventh grade, she's recovering from the broken arm she got falling off a balance beam. And packed away in the moving boxes under her clothes and gymnastics trophies is a secret she'd rather forget.

Mia's change in scenery brings day…


Book cover of Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid

Heather Alexander Why did I love 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.

By Mikaila Ulmer,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Bee Fearless as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 10, 11, 12, and 13.

What is this book about?

A business memoir from lemonade entrepreneur and one of TIME Magazine's Top 30 Most Influential Teens, Mikaila Ulmer, and her advice for life and business--now in paperback!

When Mikaila Ulmer was four, she was stung by a bee--twice in one week. She was terrified of going outside, so her parents encouraged her to learn more about bees so she wouldn't be afraid. It worked. Mikaila didn't just learn what an important role bees play in our ecosystem, but she also learned bees are endangered, and set out to save them. She started by selling cups of lemonade in front of…


Book cover of J.D. and the Great Barber Battle

Heather Alexander Why did I love 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.

By J. Dillard, Akeem S. Roberts (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked J.D. and the Great Barber Battle as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 6, 7, and 8.

What is this book about?

Eight-year-old J.D. turns a tragic home haircut into a thriving barber business in this hilarious new illustrated chapter book series

J.D. has a big problem--it's the night before the start of third grade and his mom has just given him his first and worst home haircut. When the steady stream of insults from the entire student body of Douglass Elementary becomes too much for J.D., he takes matters into his own hands and discovers that, unlike his mom, he's a genius with the clippers. His work makes him the talk of the town and brings him enough hair business to…


Book cover of Katie the Catsitter

Heather Alexander Why did I love 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!

By Colleen AF Venable, Stephanie Yue (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Katie the Catsitter as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Calling all Raina Telgemeier fans! Introducing an irresistible new middle-grade graphic novel series about growing up, friendship, heroes, and cats (lots of cats!)--perfect for fans of Guts, Awkward and Real Friends (not to mention anyone who loves cats!)

Katie is dreading the boring summer ahead while her best friends are all away at camp--something that's way out of Katie and her mom's budget, UNLESS Katie can figure out a way to earn the money for camp herself. But when Katie gets a job catsitting for her mysterious upstairs neighbor, life get interesting. First, Madeline has 217 cats (!) and they're…


Book cover of Kristy's Great Idea

Heather Alexander Why did I love 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.

By Ann M. Martin, Raina Telgemeier (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Kristy's Great Idea as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Now a major Netflix series!

Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey are best friends and founding
members of THE BABYSITTERS CLUB. Whatever
comes up - cranky toddlers, huge dogs, scary neighbors, prank calls
- you can count on them to save the day.

Babysitting isn't always easy though, and neither is dealing with
strict parents, new families, fashion emergencies, and mysterious
secrets. But no matter what, the BSC have what they need most:
friendship.

Raina Telgemeier, using
the signature style featured in her acclaimed graphic novels Smile and Sisters,
perfectly captures
all the drama and humor of the original novel!…


Explore my book 😀

Project Startup

By Heather Alexander, Laura D'Asaro, Rose Wang

Book cover of Project Startup

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.

Enough to eat a bug. Or two.

Book cover of Chirp
Book cover of Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid
Book cover of J.D. and the Great Barber Battle

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

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

1,187

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in comics, best friends, and courage?

Comics 124 books
Best Friends 79 books
Courage 50 books