In this third installment of The Wednesday Wilson series, Wednesday finds herself with an unexpected day off from school. Always thinking about starting a business, Wednesday and her best friend Charlie brainstorm ideas and finally decide to start a freckle business at the local park. Things don’t go quite as they expected as their rivals cause trouble for them at the park and at school the next day.

Although this early chapter book is part of a series, it also works as a stand alone. There are a few references to prior books, but they don’t detract from this one if readers aren’t familiar with them. There are black and white illustrations throughout the book which enhance the text and keep readers engaged in the plot. The book helps readers with vocabulary development as business-related terms are defined in kid-friendly language at the bottom of the page. The plot also explores some important themes of creativity, friendship, and diversity. One of the strengths of the book is that the diverse representation isn’t the focal point of the story- it’s simply part of who the characters are. For example, Wednesday is biracial and she has two moms. Her friend Charlie is white and has a single mom. Some of this information is in the text, while other times it is conveyed in the illustrations. Overall this book has humor and depth and would be great for children learning to read chapter books independently.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library