Great Books for Kids Who Want to Start Their Own Business
If you have a young entrepreneur, you’ll want to add these books — about kids who launch their own small businesses — to your homeschool reading list.
Camila’s Lemonade Stand by Lizzie Duncan
When Camila can’t afford a ride on the Ferris wheel, a friend suggests that she start a business to finance her fun. This book has great tips on the steps kids need to take to get their first business up and running, but kids will especially enjoy the story of how two friends with competing businesses deal with their conflict. (Elementary)
The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill
Sixth-grader Rufus Mayflower’s determination to save money on toothpaste makes him a millionaire in this breezy guide to capitalism from The Pushcart War author. This was published in the 1970s and is set in 1960s Ohio — it’s not surprising that Rufus (who is Black) has to deal with racism from neighbors and competitors, and the book doesn’t shy away from this though it’s not a main focus. A plus: The book encourages kids to work through some of the starting-a-business math as they read — inflation may have changed the numbers in the problems, but doing the math gives kids a clearer understanding of the financial side of business. (Middle grades)
Billy Sure Kid Entrepreneur by Luke Sharpe
Kid entrepreneur extraordinaire Billy Sure organizes a contest to find the next great kid inventor. Billy’s riding a middle school success train as the inventor of the All Ball (which can change into any sports ball with the press of a button) and the CEO of Sure Thing, Inc., which he runs with the help of his best friend (and CFO) Manny. This is definitely a little silly and over-the-top, but that’s probably why it makes such a fun readaloud. (Elementary)
Lunch Money by Andrew Clements
Rivals team up in a mini comic-publishing business that hits a bump when their principal outlaws comic books at school. This one is fun because it reminds kids that creativity can build a business — Greg’s talent for drawing comics is what makes his business work — and while his goal is to make money, he learns that business is about more than that. Kids can practice their math skills right along with Greg and Maura and learn from them how to approach adults about their business ideas and how to deal with obstacles. (Elementary)
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Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
An inherited lawn mower sends an ordinary boy into a whole new tax bracket. If your kids are interested in understanding how capitalism and the U.S. economy actually work — Paulsen’s version is so idealized as to be ridiculous, but that’s what makes it so great as a conversation starter. The more you read and discuss, the more problems you’ll discover. (Elementary)
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
A people-smart boy and his math-smart sister compete to see who can build the most successful lemonade stand empire. This book really gets into the nitty-gritty of what makes a business work, from the skills people need, to the accounting side, to things like marketing and public relations, and it does this in a way that recognizes that there’s no one right way to run a business. Bonus points for navigating a challenging but loving sibling relationship that turns a little too competitive. (Middle grades)
Kristy's Great Idea by Ann M. Martin
Kristy, Claudia, Mary Anne, and Stacey start their own business, complete with officers, advertising, and a dedicated phone line. I feel like so many of us loved the Baby-Sitters Club because they managed to run a hugely successful business while still being normal middle school girls (and later Logan!) with regular middle school girl interests. A lot of books for entrepreneurs focus on what could be considered a very white male-centric version of economic success, and while that appeals to some kids, it’s definitely not the only way to go into business. The Baby-Sitters Club offers a different version of business success. (Middle grades)
Henry Reed’s Baby-Sitting Service by Keith Robertson
Henry and Midge team up for a summer of baby-sitting for profit in this sequel to Henry Reed, Inc. Yes, there’s some weird 1950s gender stuff going on, but it’s still a lot of fun: Expat Henry is visiting family in New Jersey and determined to get a summer business going — and when his market research suggests that baby-sitting is where the customers are, he dives into childcare with lots of enthusiasm and only the tiniest bit of actual experience. Henry’s thinking around business decisions is interesting, and he takes the details of his business very seriously — which gives kids a framework for how they might want to approach some of their own business making decisions. (Middle grades)
Not for a Billion Gazillion Dollars by Paula Danziger
Matthew’s got a million ideas to make big bucks on his summer vacation—but entrepreneurship may be harder than he thought. It’s got that 80s movie vibe (including some bits that might be considered a little racy by modern standards), but I’ve included it because even though it does end up with a successful business big, Matthew fails A LOT (and often hilariously) along the way, which is something a lot of entrepreneurs experience. (Middle grades)
This list is adapted from the summer 2016 issue of HSL. (We’re Amazon affiliates, so if you purchase something through an Amazon link, we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Obviously this doesn’t influence what we recommend, and we link to places other than Amazon.)
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