July 1, 2020
Gr 5-8-Teen entrepreneur Ulmer shares her story and the best business strategies for success. At the age of four, she was stung by two different bees in the span of two weeks. As a result, Ulmer developed a fear of the insect. Her parents encouraged her to conquer her bee-related anxiety through knowledge. After learning that the bees were disappearing at an astonishing rate, she decided to sell lemonade to raise funds to save them. Now, the 15-year-old Austin, TX, resident is the director of Me & the Bees, a multimillion-dollar enterprise. Her memoir charts her rise and offers useful tips for other young people looking to make an impact in their neighborhood or the wider world. In the introduction, Ulmer notes, "The things that I've learned about what makes a great entrepreneur are qualities that come naturally to kids." This thesis is effectively supported by examples from her personal and professional growth. Ulmer emphasizes what she wants to share with other kids: identify a problem, research it, and then solve the issue in a way that incites one's passion. VERDICT A memoir and how-to guide with heart. Readers of any age will appreciate Ulmer's ingenuity and harness the strength they need to create and innovate.-Sierra Dickey, Ctr. for New Americans, Northampton, MA
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Starred review from September 1, 2020
Grades 6-8 *Starred Review* When author Ulmer was four years old, she got stung by a bee?twice. When she found out that bees only sting when they're afraid, she started raising money via a lemonade stand to raise awareness about their imperiled status, and wound up creating Me & the Bees Lemonade, a product currently sold in over 700 stores across the U.S. Now 15, Ulmer looks back on the past decade, sharing struggles (squeezing lemons is really tough), milestones (starting out with Whole Foods, appearing on the TV show Shark Tank), and successes (various White House meetings, a trip to South Africa, and a company currently worth millions). Her developing business acumen paralleled her continuing fascination with bees, and she established a non-profit organization, the Healthy Hive Foundation, in 2016 (10% of her profits are channeled back into bee preservation efforts). Throughout her account, Ulmer maintains a conversational style, displays appealing humbleness, and touts the importance of family support. She also offers solid entrepreneurial advice, honed through her experiences as a C.E.O, motivational speaker, and environmental activist. Ulmer has racked up many well-deserved awards and recognition during the past decade. Aspiring business tycoons and environmentalists will be inspired by her story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)
Starred review from July 15, 2020
Child entrepreneur Ulmer shares the story of how she became a business owner, philanthropist, and environmental activist. Ulmer and her family loved spending time outside, but when she was stung by a bee twice in the span of a week, she became afraid to go outside. She was only 4, and her parents encouraged her to learn about bees instead of letting her fear prevent her from doing things she loved. What Ulmer learned about bees fascinated her--and concerned her. Endangered bees meant an endangered food supply. Ulmer wanted to do something about that. She had seen kids selling lemonade for Austin Lemonade Day, and she decided to start saving the bees by raising money through a lemonade stand. Her passion for her business and for the bees, her parents' support, her attention to every opportunity, and careful use of every bit of knowledge that came her way all carried her from weekly lemonade stands to bottling her lemonade for sale at one local pizza parlor, then an offer from Whole Foods, regional expansion, Shark Tank, and beyond. In sharing her story, this talented Black girl breaks down not only each opportunity and decision she and those who supported her had to make along the way, but also the lessons about business that she learned in the process, making this a manual as well as a memoir. Her growth is inspiring, her story is fascinating, and her wisdom is priceless for young entrepreneurs. Gift this to every aspiring and beginning entrepreneur; they will thank you. (Nonfiction. 7-16)
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