Kid Start-Up

July 15, 2018
Tools for becoming an entrepreneur, a kid entrepreneur.Cuban, Patel, and McCue have put together here both a guide and a workbook to entrepreneurship. "Any kid that starts a business to make money is an entrepreneur" (from the French entreprendre, readers learn, which means to undertake). The authors are all about action: Ideas are great, but selling those ideas is the rub. They chart out characteristics of successful entrepreneurs--hardworking, enthusiastic, creative, flexible, motivated--which are good traits for any kid in any endeavor, but entrepreneurs also have to be ready to fail, as the way of the entrepreneur is full of risk. The whole idea is to create something of value that people are willing to buy to solve a problem or fulfill a need. They then give umpteen examples of things people could have use for, from duct-tape wallets to social media sites, and encourage readers to delve into any chosen product and make the very best one that you can. The trick here is to get excited enough to put thought into action, and the authors rev up the enthusiasm, provide lots of tips and ideas, and stress that even failures have their uses, as in not repeating them. Plus, starting as a kid allows you to fail and not face financial disaster, as parents are great backstopsBusiness 101--simple, with a good measure of excitement and motivational verve. (Nonfiction. 9-13)

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September 15, 2018
Grades 4-8 What kid doesn't like money? But some are driven to make, not just spend, it. This book taps into these kids' interests, giving them the tools to turn their motivation into a talent for entrepreneurship. The authors, Shaan Patel, Ian McCue, and Shark Tank's Mark Cuban, all entered business as young entrepreneurs, and their direct, easy-to-follow text introduces basic concepts, such as how failure and risk are necessary for eventual success, the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs, and the end goal of business ( to help other people by making their lives just a little bit better ). Chapters on productivity and developing ideas prepare readers for 10 Businesses Any Kid Can Start. From neighborhood dog walking to selling handmade soaps on Etsy, this chapter offers how-to visuals and pricing and selling suggestions to maximize profits. Still other chapters present online marketing ideas, interviews with real-life kid entrepreneurs, and 10 Business Principles Any Kid Can Follow (e.g., do what you know ). An appealing layout, complete with prompts and space for readers to brainstorm, makes this a ready resource for business-savvy youngsters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)