Tyler & His Solve-a-matic Machine (Future Business Leaders') Winner in the 2007 Excellent Books Category from the Prestigious iParenting Media a Disney Company
Subtitle: Teaching Kids how to be Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders
Contributors: Jennifer Shelley, Editor and Guy Smalley, Illustrator
Edition: Future Business Leaders' Series edition
Series: Future Business Leaders' Series edition
Publisher: Bouje Publishing
Published: May 30, 2006
Place of publication: Atlanta, GA
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 128
ISBN-13: 9780977926503
Subjects: Action & Adventure - General; Children's Books; Juvenile Fiction / Business, Careers, Occupations; Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic; Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction
First sentence: Tyler Sogno tightly held his end of the wishbone. His buddy Jake held the other end. Jake closed his eyes to make his wish, but Tyler’s eyes were wide open looking at a photo on his nightstand by his metal twin bed. Then Tyler looked to the wall above the photo. On it, he had proudly displayed his model sailboats. Just two days earlier, he had finished building one. It took months! Then he closed his eyes and concentrated on his memory of the photo. I wish to be a sea captain one day, to sail around the world seeing all the countries, and to experience different cultures. 
Tyler opened his eyes, “Have you made your wish yet?” 
Jake opened one eye, “No, one more minute.”
Description: The fantasy story helps prepare kids for tomorrow's world by teaching them how to think creatively, turn what they love to do into business ideas, explore products and services around them, set realistic goals, overcome obstacles and realize their dreams. In the magical city of Nessibus, Tyler, dreams of sailing around the world. Without a father and mother, he has no idea how he will ever make this dream come true. That is until the Great Spirit of the Entrepreneurs, calls him to invent a great machine to help him do his homework and create a business to make many of these machines for his friends. Rising to the challenge, Tyler befriends a hungry monkey, a chatty octopus, and a number-crunching polar bear to help him get his business running. But pirate parrots, loan sharks and united termites threaten his dream. This story appeals to children because it arouses their senses as the main characters perform adventurous tasks and solve challenging, play-on-word riddles. It appeals to parents because it celebrates entrepreneurialism, capitalism, and free-trade. In the face of extreme global competition, readers will discover why it is important to introduce kids to entrepreneurship and business concepts early on in life, . The message crosses all geographic, gender, racial, and socioeconomic lines, enabling kids to reach their dreams and become successful.
Notes: Reviews:

Jennifer Bouani and the Gift for Writing for Children, March 29, 2007
By Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) 
           
Every so often a new writer surfaces who along with the company of the likes of Roald Dahl, EB White, CS Lewis and others has the talent to speck to children about things adult in a manner that is not only informative and correct intelligently, but at the same time keeps in mind the importance of molding the realm of fantasy and tales that still focus the attention of all of us. Jennifer Bouani has the gift and in TYLER & HIS SOLVE-A-MATIC MACHINE she bows on stage as a skilled thinker and a consummate communicator. 

Billed as a part of a series for 'Future Business Leaders', this story is told through the palpably real ten year old orphan Tyler Sogno who dreams of sailing around the world to meet all peoples. His daydreaming for his lost sailor father distracts him form his studies and he comes up with the idea of building a machine that will make homework a snap - the Solve-a-matic machine. Tyler 'meets' the spiritual guardian Soté, the Great Spirit of the Entrepreneurs form the land of Profits, who introduces Tyler to the prospects of becoming an entrepreneur, instructing and supporting him as to how to accomplish his dream. Then with a deft hand at creating whimsy that is pertinent and smart (Tyler lives in a metropolis called 'Nessibus', a reconstructed version of 'Business' - for example) Bouani sets tasks using the elevators of skyscrapers on top of which are penthouses to aid Tyler and friends on the journey to success. 

In the end Soté congratulates Tyler on his perilous adventure: "You have succeeded in creating your Solve-a-matic company before sunrise. You have learned many lessons along the way. You have found your confidence, learned to be organized, and devoted yourself to your work. You have learned to be resourceful and have unleashed your imagination on the world. You've learned to lead and to take risks." And the lessons learned are soundly basic and richly entertaining in the introduction of all manner of animal life and wild adventures. 

This book is aimed at the age 9 to 12 group, but the book is so full of well-conceived steps to take in making something of a dream that it is fodder for much older wannabe entrepreneurs! Highly sophisticated writing and a true pleasure to read. Grady Harp, March 07

“A heartwarming story of an orphan who goes through hardwork and determination to become an entrepreneur. “  –Jared, age 11 

“My son ate this book up! What a terrific way to teach our children about free enterprise and stimulate their creativity.“  –Christine, mother of an 11-year old boy 

“I thought this book was a fun fantasy.“  –Joseph, age 12 

“I really like this book (sic) it was very exciting.” –Jennifer, age 10 

“Judging from my daughter’s reaction, you’ve got a winner here!...There are so many children’s books on topics like ‘How to handle anger’ – most focus on feelings.  Not many out there that touch on practical applications:  things they can use day to day.” –Terri, mother of a 10-year old girl 

“I would reccomend (sic) it to my friends who want to start a buisness (sic). “ –Alex, age 9 

“If you like books read this one.” –Jake, age 10
Table of contents: title: CHAPTER 1:  The Wishbone………………….1; title: CHAPTER 2:  Creative Juice Smoothies…13; title: CHAPTER 3:  The Library of Knowledge & the Seeds of Doubt……….19; title: CHAPTER 4:  The Medina…………….……..33; title: CHAPTER 5:  Time To Market………………44; title: CHAPTER 6:  Pirate Parrots …………..……51; title: CHAPTER 7:  Realty Sea……………………...59; title: CHAPTER 8:  Tumbleweed Desert Windstorm…………………….70; title: CHAPTER 9:  United Termitians……………83; title: CHAPTER 10:  Crunching Ice, Crunching Numbers……….96; title: CHAPTER 11:  The Penthouse……………..112