WEDNESDAY WILSON CONNECTS THE DOTS

An 8-year-old is eager for a new business venture.

Wednesday Wilson, a biracial girl with brown skin and wavy dark brown hair, wants to become an entrepreneur so that her two mothers will never have to worry again about paying the bills. Mum, who presents as White, with short, straight hair, owns a pizza truck, while Mom, who presents Black, with short Afro-textured hair, is an artist. While Wednesday and her friend Charlie have yet to find success in business, they refuse to give up. They have the day off from school, so they decide to go over business ideas. But then Mom invites over Wednesday and Charlie’s former friend Ruby. Ruby’s new friendship with mean girls known as the Emmas troubles both Wednesday and Charlie. During breakfast with Wednesday’s younger brother, Mister, Ruby provides helpful input—can Wednesday, Charlie, and Ruby rekindle their friendship? The three of them, along with Mister, plan a dog-walking business, pivot to a makeup service that paints freckles on clients, execute their new plan, and call in help when needed. This upbeat story provides readers with information and vocabulary for building a business but even greater lessons about friendship, communication, and self-worth. In the cartoonlike illustrations, Ruby is brown-skinned, while Charlie is light-skinned.

A fun story with high appeal for budding entrepreneurs.