Great Lemonade War Challenges Schools to Mix Reading with Service

The Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Publishing Group will partner with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) on a unique fundraising campaign based on Jacqueline Davies’ novel, The Lemonade War. Elementary and middle school students, using the business tips woven into Davies’ novel, will run lemonade stands this spring, with the proceeds going to ALSF, a charitable organization dedicated to fighting childhood cancer.    

The Lemonade War, first published in 2007, features a brother-sister showdown over a high-stakes lemonade stand business. Full of savvy marketing tips, this sensitive yet humorous novel subtly explores how conflicts can escalate beyond anyone's intent. It has been voted by children onto a number of state recommended reading lists and is often assigned as a summer reading title. The third book about the Treski siblings, The Bell Bandit, comes out in May 2012. 

ALSF emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, four-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of volunteers across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501 (c)3 charity, has raised more than $50 million toward fulfilling Alex’s dream, funding over two hundred pediatric cancer research projects nationally. 

“We are thrilled to partner with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Jacqueline Davies to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer in collaboration with the release of The Bell Bandit," said Liz Scott, Alex's mom and Co-Executive director "We feel that this partnership makes perfect sense as school-aged children follow the adventures of Jessie and Evan Treski, including the important educational and good will lessons that coincide with holding a lemonade stand. The messages of the book and our foundation are in perfect alignment - children can accomplish anything, including making a difference in the lives of others." 

Contest registration opens February 1, 2012. Fundraising will begin on April 2, with all proceeds due to ALSF by May 2. The school that raises the most money will win a visit from Davies and Jay or Liz Scott, founders of ALSF and Alex’s parents as well as classroom sets of the next two books in the series; runner-up schools will receive Skype visits with Davies and audio books. Winners will be notified by May 4. For more information on the contest, visit www.greatlemonadewar.com. 

Jacqueline Davies has also written several picture books, including The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon. Ms. Davies lives in Needham, Massachusetts, with her family. To learn more about Jacqueline, her books, and the lemonade stand fundraiser, visit Jacqueline’s website at www.lemonadewar.com.