THE MONEY TREE | Free Children Book
Nov 27, 2025
Billy is puzzled when his teacher sets the class a challenge: grow £5 over the summer holidays. How can he grow money if money trees don’t exist? With the help of his sister Alice, Billy learns that growing money takes creativity, effort, and a little teamwork. Together, they set up a lemonade stand, meet neighbours, and discover the joy of earning while sharing. A heartwarming story about resourcefulness, determination, and making the most of what you have.
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Just before the school bells rang, sending the school children off to celebrate their summer, Ms. Lin reminded them of their task. The children were asked to find a way to grow their money.
For the rest of the day, the children spoke among themselves, coming up with ideas on how to do this. But Billy was confused.
Billy’s older sister, Alice, always asked their mum for money for sweets, magazines, and other things. Their mum would always reply, “Money does not grow on trees.”
How was Billy supposed to grow his money, if there are no such things as money trees?
That evening, as the family sat down to eat dinner, Billy shared his concerns.
“Mum, Ms. Lin has asked us to grow £5 over the summer holidays, but where do I find a plant that grows money?”
Mum gave a little chuckle. “Ms. Lin means to use £5 to raise more money.”
“How can you do that?” Billy asked.
“Well, there are lots of ways,” Mum began, “you could do something for others and they can donate to you, like a car wash or bag packing.”
Billy’s sister then gave another idea: “Or you could sell something, like your old toys, a craft, or some cakes.”
“Great ideas, Alice. Why don’t you help Billy over the summer?” Mum said.
Alice agreed, and the siblings quickly finished up their dinner so they could begin to plan.
They thought long and hard about what they could do and how they could do it.
“What are people going to want the most during the summer?” Alice wondered.
Billy replied, “Something to keep them cool…like a drink…”
“That’s it, Billy! We can sell lemonade!” Alice cheered.
The next day, Billy and Alice made a list of all the ingredients and items they would need to buy, then created a plan. Mum kindly helped them in the store to tick off everything on their list.
Lemons
Sugar
Jug
Cups
Paper and pens
Their total came to exactly £5. The siblings decided to sell their lemonade for 50p and they hoped to sell 20 drinks to double their money. Mum explained how after making their money back, the rest of it would be called a profit.
When they got back home, Alice reminded Billy that they would need to make some ice to keep the lemonade cool. So together, they filled some ice cube trays with water from the tap and carefully put them in the freezer.
Then, Alice took the pens and paper and ran upstairs to begin making signs and posters to attract customers.
Downstairs, Mum helped Billy squeeze the juice out of the lemons and mix it with sugar and more tap water in their jug. They made some space in the fridge to keep it nice and cool.
Before the sun set that evening, Mum took Billy and Alice around the neighbourhood to hand out flyers to dog walkers, post them through doors, and hang posters on the trees.
“This way, the whole neighbourhood will know we are selling lemonade in the morning,” Alice said.
As soon as the sun began to rise the next morning, Billy and Alice were awake and getting ready for an exciting day. Together, they began setting up by bringing out the table onto the driveway.
They covered it in a tablecloth and decorated it with Alice’s signs and posters. Just as the neighbours were getting ready for the day, the siblings were ready for their customers.
Betty and Bob from number 12 were the first to visit, followed by some nice, chatty dog walkers. Lots of children came along to see what was going on, then ran back indoors to get some money.
Some customers came back again and again. “This lemonade is fantastic,” they said.
Alice and Billy could not believe how many customers they had.
Joggers who needed a break from running, parents taking their babies on a walk, and even Mum and Dad brought a few cups.
It wasn’t long before the lemonade ran out.
“Oh no,” Billy said sadly.
“Don’t worry,” Mum replied, “you’ve made lots of money today, so we can go buy more lemons and make more lemonade for tomorrow.”
Excitedly, the siblings packed their stand away for the night and headed to the shop once more.
Over the rest of the summer, Billy and Alice kept making lemonade for their whole neighbourhood to enjoy. Every evening, they were always sold out. But on the last day of summer, they packed away the stand for the last time.
“We should do this every year,” Alice suggested.
“Yes!” Billy cheered eagerly.
When the pair were ready for bed, Mum brought their jar of money into the room.
“You haven’t counted all the money you raised.”
“Oh, yes,” Billy remembered. He was having so much fun, he forgot about the task.
Together, the three of them counted their profit and were so amazed to find out they had made £150.
“Wow!” Mum said, “Look how much you grew your £5.”
Even at school the next day, Billy’s teacher and classmates could not believe how much money he had made.
“What a great way to grow money!” Ms. Lin exclaimed.
“Money doesn’t grow on trees,” Billy began chuckling, “but lemons do! And when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade!”
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