JumpStart 2nd Grade Readers: The Great Paint Problem

JumpStart 2nd Grade Readers: The Great Paint Problem is a JumpStart book in the Readers series published in 2000.

Major

 * Casey
 * CJ
 * Edison
 * Kisha

Minor

 * Frankie
 * Eleanor
 * Pierre
 * Hopsalot

Chapter 1
One day, Casey bursts into CJ's and Edison's secret clubhouse. He exclaims that all of Kisha's paints are gone. CJ thinks a mystery must be afoot, but Casey goes on to explain that he borrowed Kisha's paints to paint his tail. Then forgot to bring them inside after he was done, and a rainstorm washed all of the paints away. Casey remorsefully says that there is an art contest coming up in two days, and he was supposed to return the paints so Kisha could paint a picture for the contest. Now he is worried that Kisha won't be able to paint her picture in time. Edison thinks that Casey should tell Kisha what happened, but CJ and Casey start devising a plan to get new paints before Kisha notices the missing paints.

Chapter 2
Casey runs to his house to see how much money he has. Meanwhile, CJ checks the secret clubhouse's money box. The box only has twenty-five cents, and two dollars and fifty cents are needed to replace all of Kisha's paints. To get more money, CJ says that he'll try to sell something. He grabs a jar and heads out. Later, Casey returns to the clubhouse with his savings - seventy-five cents. Edison remarks that they'll need a dollar and fifty cents more. Then CJ reveals his plan to get more money - selling lemonade. CJ explains that they can use his secret family recipe for the lemonade, and after Casey asks about it, CJ's divulges the secret ingredient - juice from one fresh orange. CJ expresses full confidence that they can't fail with this recipe.

Chapter 3
CJ, Casey and Edison set up a lemonade stand by the playground. Their first customer is Frankie, who pays them ten cents for a glass of lemonade. He remarks on the delicious taste and wonders what ingredient CJ used for it, but CJ says it's top-secret information. Frankie buys more lemonade, and then Eleanor, Pierre, and Hopsalot show up too. They all buy lemonade and try to guess the secret ingredient. Finally, Kisha comes to the lemonade stand too, which makes Casey nervous. He gives her a cup of lemonade for free, since it was the last of the lemonade anyways, and Kisha thanks him. Before she leaves, she reminds him to bring her paints to her tomorrow. Afterwards, Casey, CJ and Edison count up all of them money they earned. The were able to sell one dollar's worth of lemonade, bringing their total to two dollars, which still leaves them fifty cents short.

Chapter 4
That night, Casey, CJ and Edison try to find a solution to their problem. Early the next morning, Casey runs to the clubhouse and exclaims that he's got the last fifty cents. He explains that a tooth of his fell out, and he got seventy-five cents for it. He pays back CJ for the twenty-five cents from the money box, and uses the rest to buy new paints for Kisha. He gets them to her just in time, and the next day, Casey, CJ and Edison go to the art contest. They see that Kisha has won first place. Afterwards, Casey finds Kisha, and she thanks him for coming to the art contest. Seeing her smile, Casey feels terrible about what happened, and realizes he has to tell her to truth. After explaining what really happened, Casey apologizes and says that he thought she would be angry. Kisha says that it was an accident, and that it was better to tell the truth. Then she reveals the prize she got for first place - a new paint set. She says that she can't wait to paint a picture for next week's contest. CJ asks her what she will paint, and she says that it's a secret, but it will definitely have lots of colors.