Determination drives a fun, little tale, while the main goal, teaching basic business, glides along effortlessly and without a smidgen of boredom.

Chance's father pays him $10 a week to clean the pool, which works out great until Chance realizes he might need more money if he wants to buy the things he desires. With guidance from his father, he soon has a small business running and even hires employees of his own.

For any kids curious about earning money...or for adults wanting to teach basic business skills...this is a well-done and easy to understand read. Chance's desire to earn extra cash is very relatable, and the way he starts everything up is so natural that it could happen to anyone. This definitely takes a down-to-earth view on how kids can start up their own businesses, and I'm giving the author kudos for that. The relationship between the father and the kids is also healthy and inspiring. There's an obvious support coming from him and, yet, he leaves enough room for Chance to learn by experience. The book also includes visual calculations as Chance tries to figure out how much he's earning/spending, And there is a question or two at the end of each chapter, which encourages readers to consider what's happening and relate it to their own life and situation.

The book is recommended for ages 10 to 14, which works from the material end of things, since that is the age group where many start gaining serious interest in earning money and have the capability to completely understand the math and theories behind building a small business (but still think very basic). However, the writing didn't quite fit this age group and played to a slightly younger audience. As long as this book is seen as a way to teach kids basic business ideas and not as an entertaining read, this isn't a problem, though. It is a fun way to bring across the information and makes it very relatable for the reader.

This one would also work well for classroom and homeschooling situations. I received a complimentary copy and found this well done on the business front. ( )

I found KidVenture: Twelve Weeks To Midnight Blue by Steve Searfoss to be a great book. It teaches kids some valuable lessons of how to keep a business going and the important lesson of how to manage money. Not only the younger readers could learn from this, but many adults could, as well. I liked following Chance and seeing how his pool cleaning company would prosper and seeing how he would take care of his expenses and profit. I admired his courage and his hard work in getting through all of the challenges he faces all through the story. It was fun and entertaining to read that put a smile on my face.

KidVenture: Twelve Weeks To Midnight Blue includes some fun illustrations throughout the book. The pictures were a vivid and colorful addition to the story. They were a great visual to what the characters were doing in certain scenes.

KidVenture: Twelve Weeks To Midnight Blue is getting a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for young readers who are between the ages of ten and fourteen. I look forward to reading more books like this from Steve Searfoss in the future and hope he will be releasing more KidVenture books soon. This one would be a great addition to a local or school library.

I received a copy of KidVenture: Twelve Weeks To Midnight Blue from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. ( )

Twelve Weeks to Midnight Blue tells the story of Chase Sterling, a 10-year-old boy who is taught to raise his own money to buy a bike (Midnight Blue) that he wants. This book has a bit of a nostalgic flair to it, I suppose because it brought me back to my childhood when my brother and I sold greeting cards door-to-door to earn summer money. (It was safer to do so back in my day.)

When I’m reading any non-fiction, fiction, adult, or children’s book, I like to learn something new. Whether it’s learning about the world, history, or even myself. This book is a wonderful learning experience for young people like Chase. It teaches about money, math, building character, and what it takes to start and run a business, but it does so in a fun storybook tale.

Pros: An entertaining story and great learning experience

Cons: Some of the descriptions and dialogue include too much description or detail for my taste.

Overall: I enjoyed how the author incorporates the elements of entrepreneurship into the story, showing the benefits of responsibility, teamwork, negotiations, problem-solving, and more. I can see it being an entertaining learning experience for young readers and their parents and will most certainly become a spark of inspiration.

Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. ( )

This was a great way to introduce kids to running a business and the costs associated. It's a fun story, with questions at the end of each chapter to help engage kids further with the story. The math is written out, making it easier for kids to follow along. The writing level is definitely geared for middle grade level readers, and might not be as appealing for more advanced readers. (Although it would be a great book to read and discuss with your middle grader). ( )

When a boy desires a brand new bike, his father assists him in learning the value of a dollar by giving him the opportunity to clean the family pool. With illustrations showing calculations and more, the author creates a worthwhile story that demonstrates how Chance and his sister form a partnership to clean pools that capitalizes on their strengths.

Each chapter concludes with challenge questions designed to make the reader think. I feel this book does an excellent job of explaining entrepreneurship and economics. I also appreciate how the author allows the readers to explore the thoughts of Chance and his sister as well as providing illustrations of those thoughts along with any calculations. The cooperation between Chance and his sister provides an excellent character-building activity for the reader.

I also appreciate how Chance’s father requires him to work for the bike rather than just giving him the money. I also enjoyed getting to know Chance’s clients as well as his friend Amit. It shows how we all make mistakes, but how we handle them makes a huge difference.

As a parent of four children, I wish this book existed when our children were younger. I definitely would have selected this book for them to read. I love the idea of children learning how to start a business because it helps them develop skills they can benefit from in the future. So if you have children or know of a young person who could benefit from this type of book, check it out for yourself. ( )