Mitchell has a few extra dollars in his pockets — and a few less books on his bedroom shelf — after the creative 9 year old Lac La Biche youngster handled a "clean up your room" request from his mom in a very business-like manner.
"Most of the books, I sold for two dollars. If they were in really good shape, then three dollars. If they were ripped, then it was like 50 cents," said Mitchell Lyttle about his recent curbside book sale.
Admitting he prefers chapter books and "books that are funny", Mitchell said he didn't keep many favourites for himself, instead opting to offer up his good reads to others.
Pairing the book sale with a few pitchers of iced tea and some of his sister's baked cookies for the customers, and hand sanitizer for pandemic protocols, Mitchell's afternoon book sale took place in is family's Dumasfield neighbourhood and netted him almost $50.
He doesn't know what he's going to spend his money on yet, wondering aloud if he might buy more books, put it towards some back-to-school clothes, or maybe some hockey equipment to help him reach his goal of becoming a professional hockey player.
"Right now, it's for buying me chocolate," he said with a little laugh.
Mitchell's mom Zara says her kids have set up a few sidewalk stands in recent years with her daughter selling baking goodies and Mitchell pitching in with lemonade or iced tea. While his older sister did pour the iced tea at their most recent venture, the book sale was all Mitchell's idea, said Zara.
"It was a pretty good idea from him. It was cute and fun and he raised the money instead of just asking us for it," she said, explaining that the COVID-caused extended school break helped to bring about the creative idea — and might bring about some more. "I'm sure he'll be trying to find another something like this to do."
Another highlight of the youngster's business spirit was seen when he donated any books that he didn't sell for free to some families he knows.