Review - I Campaigned for Ice Cream

I Campaigned for Ice Cream
by Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw
illustrated by Wendy Leach
Date: 2019
Publisher: Warren Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

I scream! You scream!
Josh...campaigns...for ice cream!

I Campaigned for Ice Cream is an upbeat, educational, and heartwarming true story of Joshua Lipshaw, who as a nine-year-old petitioned his local government to change an outdated law that prevented ice cream trucks from driving through his town. Complete with adorable illustrations by Wendy Leach, this sweet book is a tasty treat for young readers as well as a lesson that they too can make a difference in their communities. Relive Josh's passionate journey as he works to bring the joy of ice cream trucks to his town.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is an interesting book about a boy's quest to bring ice cream trucks to his town.

Now, I can't say I'm entirely on board. I hate ice cream trucks and their noise. They're smelly, price-gouging, and obnoxious. Who wants an earworm to go with their ice cream? Not me.

But, as an introduction to the civic process for kids, the book works quite well. The steps Josh had to take to bring his dream to fruition are clearly laid out in the narrative.

I'm not a fan of the repetition in the text, and the illustrations, while cute, are just okay for me. I think the real value in this book is in teaching kids how they can make change in their own communities. There are plenty of outdated (and, quite frankly, ridiculous) laws out there just waiting to be repealed; perhaps this book might inspire kids to get working on some of those.

Thank you to NetGalley and Warren Publishing for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.33 out of 5