Dirt Cheap

February 1, 2020
A kid entrepreneur sells dirt to finance a snazzy new soccer ball. An interactive narrator introduces and talks with Birdie, a youngster peering at a newspaper through oversized yellow spectacles. When the narrator asks what Birdie is looking at, the kid flips the paper around to show an ad for the XR1000 Super Extreme Soccer Ball. Short the $24.95 needed to purchase the "beautiful" ball, Birdie takes the narrator's recommendation that a yard sale may garner the necessary funds. The yard sale turns out to be a bad business model (low market demand) so Birdie brainstorms something else: a literal yard sale. Birdie starts selling dirt from the yard for 25 bucks a sack. Still no customers. When Birdie marks down the price to 25 cents--and starts advertising "dirt cheap cheap dirt"--the coins finally roll in. Birdie uses the hard-earned money to buy the soccer ball. But what use is the ball if there is no longer a lawn to play soccer on? Hoffmann cleverly intertwines early math skills with messages of working toward goals and problem-solving. Readers will learn alongside Birdie different ways to add up change. Birdie's approachable, can-do attitude plays well off the narrator-knows-best tone to create some genuine comedy. The gently absurd illustrations offer a lush suburban landscape, expressive scenes, and racially diverse neighbors; Birdie has pale skin and black pigtails. Worth it, dirt and all. (Picture book. 4-8)

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March 2, 2020
Every great businessperson starts out small. Hoffmann’s (Fruit Bowl) unseen interlocutor introduces readers to Birdie, a girl with huge yellow glasses who yearns for a XR1000 Super Extreme Soccer Ball that costs $24.95: “It’s so beautiful. I want it. I need it!” she tells the audience. “Well,” says the narrator, “soccer balls cost money. How much ya got?” The answer is zilch—until Birdie, noticing how she’s surrounded by yards and gardens, starts selling the dirt from her yard at 25¢ a bag. As the colorful acrylic and pencil drawings depict the customers literally piling up, readers also get a lesson in money-related computation—Birdie discovers that 25¢ can be five nickels, 25 pennies, and so on. But the joy of owning the XR1000 is short-lived; now Birdie has no yard to play in, and in a wordless, bird’s-eye view spread, Birdie’s parents emerge from the front door and discover the trench that now encircles their house. Capitalism to the rescue again—only no more selling stuff. Birdie earns the money to replace the dirt by entering the gig economy: “Try Birdie’s Lawn Care.” Can an IPO be far behind? Ages 3–7. (Apr.) Correction: A previous version of this review misstated the author's last name.

March 1, 2020

K-Gr 2-Birdie has her eye on an XR1000 Super Extreme soccer ball. But it costs $24.95, and she doesn't have the money. Fortunately, Birdie is a smart little girl and realizes she can make the money by going into sales. If only she could think of something she has that people need. Then she has a brilliant idea. She could sell dirt at a dirt cheap price: one bag for only 25 cents! It's not long after she purchases the ball that she realizes she has dug up her yard and doesn't have a place to kick it around. Once again, Birdie comes up with yet another creative idea. This is a clever and funny tale. The text is a dialogue between the narrator and Birdie, and the banter between the two is humorous and light. The illustrations are colorful and include oversize shapes and clean lines. Birdie is adorable with her large glasses, dirty overalls, yellow boots, and quick comebacks. Our heroine has a positive outlook and doesn't let things get her down. The book demonstrates how even a young child can be a great entrepreneur. Money math is incorporated into the story, which will help young children observe different ways to combine coins that will add up to 25 cents. VERDICT A light, fun, and educational tale that would work wonderfully as a two-voice read-aloud.-Barbara Spiri, Southborough Library, MA

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