Sophie Washington: Lemonade Day by Tonya Duncan Ellis

Sophie Washington and her friends are back for a sweet, fun story that is sure to inspire kids to follow their dreams.

Short of cash to buy a special present for her mother’s birthday, Sophie is encouraged to take part in Lemonade Day, where young entrepreneurs learn how to start and operate businesses. With help from her friends and her annoying little brother, Sophie charges forward, only to have an accident destroy their supplies. With some creativity, they hope to get their plan back on track, earn the money they need, and support the local animal shelter.

Sophie Washington: Lemonade Day by Tonya Duncan Ellis is the second book in the Sophie Washington series that I’ve read. Sophie is smart and spunky, so readers will be drawn to her right away. I love how the author has created a diverse cast of characters to make the story relatable to everyone. Just like in Secret Santa, Sophie is faced with obstacles that challenge her. Though she gets frustrated, like any entrepreneur, she doesn’t give up.

If you enjoy books with strong protagonists, the Sophie Washington series is one you should pick up.

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

READ AN EXCERPT

Forty minutes later, Mom calls us back in. A caramel scented candle has our kitchen smelling like a bakery, and she’s smiling. I guess the rest of the meeting went well.

“Here’s a snack, girls.” She sets a plate of cookies on the table. “I’m sure you’re hungry after all that running and jumping.”

“I’m really excited about all your suggestions.” Mrs. Gentry walks in from the restroom. “The marketing ideas are fabulous. I’m glad you’re setting things up so I can sell my candles on the Internet. I’d been happy getting a booth at the Farmer’s Market every Saturday, but I know I need to grow. I can’t wait to see the business plan you put together. Thanks for taking time with me.”

She turns to Alexis. “Did you have a good time with Sophie and Chloe? I hope she wasn’t too much trouble.”

“None at all, Mrs. Gentry,” answers Chloe. “It was fun.”

“Yeah, we got to play lots of games we liked in kindergarten, without feeling babyish.” I nod.

“I love Sophie’s puppy!” says Alexis. “Can we get one, Mom?”

“Taking care of dogs can be expensive. We’ll have to see how my business does,” says Mrs. Gentry with a chuckle.

She grabs Alexis’ hand and moves toward the front door. “Let’s meet again next week. You can definitely sign me on as your first customer.”

“Oh, and here’s a little something for you and Chloe for helping me out.” She hands us both five dollars.

“Thank you, Mrs. Gentry!” We say at the same time.

“It’s so cool that your mom’s helping Mrs. Gentry sell her candles,” says Chloe a few minutes later in the den. She scrolls through her phone, and I half-watch a cartoon on the flat screen over the fireplace.

All the papers are picked up, and the room’s back the way it usually looks, with bright, comfy throw blankets on the soft, leather couch, and the colorful, wool rug brightening the tile floor.

Over in the kitchen, Mom’s on a call with Dad, telling him the good news about her first customer. “We should start a business,” says Chloe. “It’d be cool to make our own money. I want to get some new leggings at the mall, but Mom says they cost too much. If we had our own business, I could save up and buy them myself.”

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I received a digital copy of this book from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

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Sophie Washington: Secret Santa by Tonya Duncan Ellis

If your child enjoys books with strong female protagonists, a hint of mystery, and the joy of Christmas, then Sophie Washington: Secret Santa by Tonya Duncan Ellis will be a perfect gift.

It’s a few weeks before Christmas and Sophie and her friends are busy as school is coming to a close before the break. When Sophie begins receiving presents from a secret Santa, she can only guess who it might be. Is it one of her friends or one of the boys she knows? The answer might surprise her.

Though this is the seventh book in the Sophie Washington series, it’s the first one I’ve read. It’s a quick, fun chapter book with cute illustrations. As the reader gets to know Sophie and her friends, they eagerly turn the pages to see if they can figure out who Sophie’s secret Santa really is. Sophie is spunky and she has a love him/not so in love with him relationship with her younger brother that makes her even more relatable. In addition to the mysterious Santa, the book also addresses the topic of bullying. I don’t think we can have enough books that tackle this issue, and I like the author’s handling of it within this story.

If you set a story at Christmas, you’ve already partially won my heart. Sophie Washington: Secret Santa also inspires me to check out the previous books in the series to follow more of Sophie’s adventures.

EXCERPT:

“Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg!”

“Be quiet, Cole!” I put my hands over my ears to muffle my brother’s out-of-tune singing and focus back on my laptop to finish my English essay. It’s less than three weeks until winter break and my teachers have been piling on the assignments to make sure we get our end of semester grades in.

There sure is a big change between fifth and sixth grade, workwise, at Xavier Academy, the private school my brother and I go to. Between all the essays and projects and studying for final exams, I feel I can barely take time to pat my dog, Bertram, when I get home; whereas, my eight-year-old brother Cole acts like he’s already on vacation.

Since we got home from school an hour ago, he’s been living it up, shooting hoops in the driveway, eating a snack and now playing on the handheld video game player that my mother would make him put up if she were downstairs with us. I ought to tell on him now…

Ding Dong!

The doorbell interrupts my thoughts.

“Can you get it, Sophie?” Mom yells from upstairs. “I’m putting some clothes in the closet.”

I would ask her why she wants me to answer the door, and not Cole, but I already know the answer: “Because you’re the oldest.”

Of course, that logic doesn’t hold when it comes to who gets the first dessert or who doesn’t have to do the dishes at night. As the baby of the family and favored child, my little brother has got it made.

I trudge to the front door in time to see the mail carrier heading back to his truck. He’s left a medium-sized box on the porch. Wonder what it is?

My mother sometimes has holiday packages delivered to the house, but Cole and I haven’t made our Christmas lists yet, so I doubt it’s anything for us. I open the door, pick the package up, and check out the label. It’s got my name on it in bright, red ink, “Sophie Washington.”

Who could this be from?

I never get any mail, except for birthday gifts my Granny Washington sends to our house in Houston from Corpus Christi when she can’t be here, and I don’t remember my parents ordering anything for us online. Granny is driving up to see us tomorrow, so I doubt she would mail presents here when she could just bring them with her.

“Mom, I got a package!” I call out.

“What is it?” Cole bounds from the family room to stare at the box as I set it on the kitchen counter.

“Back off, Cole, it’s mine,” I move him to the side with my hip and take a closer look at the delivery. The box is wrapped in brown paper, and there is no return address. It looks difficult to open with my fingers, so I pull a butter knife out of a drawer in the kitchen and slit through the tape on the side. A sweet, sugary scent fills the air.

“Cool!” exclaims Cole in appreciation as the brown wrapping slides off to reveal a box filled with packages of licorice, gummy bears, gum, and red and green M&Ms. I notice a typed note underneath.

Dear Sophie,
Hope your day is super sweet!
Your Secret Santa

Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 2 – 6
Series: Sophie Washington (Book 7)
Paperback: 122 pages
Publisher: Page Turner Publishing (September 10, 2018)
Language: English

Digital version available for only 99 cents!

Also available in softcover!

Website: tonyaduncanellis.com

Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks

Twitter: @TonyaDEllis

I received a digital copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

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