The Lemonade War

“For a full hour, he poured lemonade.  The world is a thirsty place, he thought as he nearly emptied his fourth pitcher of the day.  And I am the Lemonade King.”

Evan is people-smart.  He is good at talking to people -- even adults.  His younger sister Jessie, however, is really smart at math, but when it comes to people, well . . . 

Although this brother and sister they love each other, Jessie and Evan are constantly arguing with each other.  Sound familiar?  

Called the Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies, this book is about a week-long battle (bet) between brother and sister to see who can sell the most lemonade and make the most money in a week.  The winner takes ALL the profits to do with as his he or she likes.

This is a funny, clever book that even this librarian who is fearful of math enjoyed.  

Recommended for grades 3-6.

The Firehouse Light

The Firehouse Light is an amazing TRUE story of a 4-watt lightbulb that has been burning in the Livermore, California firehouse for more than 110 years!  That isn’t a typo!

The light bulb has been burning for 110 years, and it has never burned out!  

No one knows why the bulb is still burning.

In Janet Nolan’s beautiful book The Firehouse Light, readers follow the journey of the lightbulb from 1901 through present day.

An afterward gives information about the man who donated the lightbulb to the fire department and the manufacturer of the bulb itself.

Most interesting to my son, was the website where you can go to see a live webcam of the actual light bulb.  We checked it out last night -- and it is still lit!  It hangs 25 feet above their firetruck -- over a century after it was first lit.

Amazing!

Check out the live webcam here:

http://www.centennialbulb.org/photos.htm