Root Beer Float Island, by London J. Maddison. Root Beer Float Island is a story for children about the animals and adventures of a beautiful island where sarsaparilla flows from the volcano like root beer floats at a soda fountain. The animals experience multiple invasions of explorers and pirates who come to change everything. As it turns out, they can change anything except the drive to do good things for the world that lives in the hearts of the creatures of Root Beer Float Island. The story incorporates territories and transitions and doubles as an acquisitions parody. The story teaches that no matter how much you try to take the positive, sparkling sarsaparilla attitude of making the world a better place from those who have it, it can't be done. You can take the creatures and the sarsaparilla away from the island, but you can't take the sarsaparilla or the island out of their hearts. From a business perspective, Root Beer Float Island takes on new meaning as a business fable. It illustrates the saga of an organization experiencing mergers, acquisitions and takeovers. Between the lines of the children's story are the ups and down of public versus private companies and the real heartache that can occur when companies are swallowed up by larger enterprises. The story brings business takeovers into vivid perspective from the standpoint of creatures on a beautiful island and leaves readers with the peace of mind that a legacy shall live on, no matter what the circumstances. Having that root beer float sarsaparilla sparkle comes with responsibility and certain ultimate change. Others will always see it and want it for their own. There will be pirates and explorers, elephants and Tasmanian devils. . . even snakes watching closely. In cases of school classrooms fortunate enough to have the sarsaparilla, they will most certainly be "acquired and merged" year after year, sending their sarsaparilla into new classes and on to share with new students and teachers. The book is recommended as a children's book to be read to early readers K-2 and as an early chapter book for grade 3. It can be used as an end of the year tool to encourage students to look forward to the new year, knowing they will not be all in the same class again. It is also recommended as a lighthearted tool in high school and college business classes. The author also encourages any company or organization considering selling, merging or being acquired, to read this book.
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