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Children's books and activities

Money

Do you know any young entrepreneurs or history buffs who are curious about the history of our currency? We've gathered up a great collection of books, activities, apps, and websites for learning all about financial literacy and money.

Try pairing fiction with nonfiction books and exploring different genres (like poetry and biographies) and formats (like graphic novels and audio books). You'll be creating your own "text sets" — collections of texts focused on a specific topic. Reading widely in this way helps children build background knowledge, vocabulary, and comprehension skills.

Money

How to explore this theme:

  • Read fiction and nonfiction books
  • Try some hands-on activities
  • Build writing skills with these fun ideas
  • Dig deeper with kid-friendly websites
  • Play and learn with mobile apps

More themed resources:

  • Growing Readers tip sheets (English & Spanish)
  • Video interviews with children’s authors
  • Washington DC for kids
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  • Tweet Link [2]
  • Pin It [3]
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  •  Power up your read alouds! [10]
  •  try some hands-on activities with your child [11]
  •  Find great educational websites [12]
  •  Find interactive apps for more learning [13]
  •  Our Reading Adventure Pack all about bees [14]
  •  Take a field trip to learn more about bugs and bees [15]
  •  Talk with your child about everything you read, see and do together [10]
  •  Explore with your child to build background knowledge [16]
  •  Download our summer ideas guide [17]
 How to use Start with a Book
  • Choose a topic from our 24 themes [7]
  • Find dozens of themed fiction and nonfiction books [7]
  • Power up your read alouds [10]
  • Connect with libraries and librarians [18]
  • Browse our library of themed Reading Adventure Packs [19]
  • Take a field trip and explore your local community [20]
  • Reading Adventure Packs + field trips = fun, experiential learning [19]
  • Visit a farm, petting zoo or farmer's market [21]
  • Visit an aquarium or the beach [22]
  • Go on a virtual field trip to learn about stars [23]
  • Read all about stars [23]
  • Meet science writer Seymour Simon [23]
  • Try some hands-on activities [23]
  • Learn more about stars online [24]
  • Interactive learning with apps [25]
  • Go on a stars-themed reading adventure [26]
  • Visit a planetarium or stargazers club [26]
  • Share reading tips with parents [10]
  • Summer reading tips for parents sent as text messages [27]
  • Download our summer ideas guide [17]
 How to use Start with a Book

Great Fiction & Nonfiction Books

Age Level: 3-6 years old

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Bunny Money

By: Rosemary Wells

Age Level: 3-6 years old

Bunny siblings, Max and Ruby, want to get their grandmother the perfect present. Ruby's full wallet...

Purchase book [28]

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

By: Simms Taback

Age Level: 3-6 years old

A book bursting at the seams with ingenuity and creative spirit. When Joseph's overcoat becomes "...

Purchase book [29]

Lemonade in Winter

By: Emily Jenkins

Age Level: 3-6 years old

An entrepreneurial sister and her brother decide to make and sell lemonade on a snowy winter day....

Purchase book [30]

Money Madness

By: David Adler

Age Level: 3-6 years old

What's all this madness about money? Long ago, people traded rocks or sheep for the items they...

Purchase book [31]

One Proud Penny

By: Randy Siegel

Age Level: 3-6 years old

The humble and sometimes abused copper penny tells its own story in this humorous combination of...

Purchase book [32]

Age Level: 6-9 years old

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Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday

By: Judith Viorst

Age Level: 6-9 years old

It's not burning a hole in his pocket, but Alexander can't seem to save the money his grandparents...

Purchase book [33]

Follow the Money!

By: Loreen Leedy

Age Level: 6-9 years old

The George in this adventure about currency is having a very curious day! After being freshly...

Purchase book [34]

Lemonade for Sale

By: Stuart Murphy

Age Level: 6-9 years old

Four best friends start a lemonade business and make a bar graph to chart their growing sales....

Purchase book [35]

Money Math: Addition and Subtraction

By: David A. Adler

Age Level: 6-9 years old

Cartoon versions of American presidents guide children through this lively introduction to...

Purchase book [36]

One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference

By: Kate Smith Milway

Age Level: 6-9 years old

This fictionalized story of Kojo, a boy from Ghana, who changes his world with a small loan and...

Purchase book [37]

Sam and the Lucky Money

By: Karen Chin

Age Level: 6-9 years old

It's Chinese New Year's Day and Sam is finally old enough to spend the leisees — the...

Purchase book [38]

Age Level: 9-12 years old

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Double Fudge

By: Judy Blume

Age Level: 9-12 years old

Money is Fudge's new obsession. From singing about it to making his own "Fudge Bucks,"Peter Hatcher...

Purchase book [39]

Lawn Boy

By: Gary Paulson

Age Level: 9-12 years old

Learn the beauty of capitalism along with a lawnmower riding preteen. Rich in laughter, this quick...

Purchase book [40]

Mr. Chickee's Funny Money

By: Christopher Paul Curtis

Age Level: 9-12 years old

Nine-year-old Steven has a quadrillion-dollar bill. Agent Fondoo and the U.S. Treasury Department...

Purchase book [41]

Rare Beasts

By: Charles Ogden

Age Level: 9-12 years old

To bankroll their future pranks, parentless twins Edgar and Ellen devise an unusual moneymaking...

Purchase book [42]

The History of Money: From Bartering to Banking

By: Martin Jenkins

Age Level: 9-12 years old

With humorous watercolors, the development of money from pre-historic times to the present is...

Purchase book [43]

The Story of Money

By: Betsy Maestro

Age Level: 9-12 years old

Get a great overview of the history of money including early trade and barter, the creation of...

Purchase book [44]

Twenty-Two Cents: Muhammad Yunus and the Village Bank

By: Paula Yoo

Age Level: 9-12 years old

Surrounded by poverty as a child in Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus was determined to help.He studied...

Purchase book [45]

Hands-on Activities

Build on what you're learning together through books with these family-friendly activities, experiments, and crafts.

  • Budgeting: Being Thrifty Is So Nifty [46]
  • Comic-Themed Wallet [47]
  • Design Your Own Money [48]
  • Econ Activities and Games [49]
  • Farmers Market Math [50]
  • Origami Money Box [51]
  • State Quarter Geography [52]

Summer Writing

Give kids a chance to flex their writing muscles all summer long. Try one of these prompts, selected from our writing contest archives and other literacy organizations.

  • Buy this Car! (Inspired by Chris Van Dusen) [53]

Great Websites for Kids

Dive deeper into topics of interest with these media-rich and interactive sites.

  • American Currency Exhibit [54]
  • Birth of a Coin [55]
  • Brain Pop: Economics [56]
  • Budget Hero [57]
  • Change Maker [58]
  • Design Your Own Money [59]
  • Discover Historic U.S. Currency [60]
  • Escape from Barter Islands [61]
  • Explore Money from Around the World [62]
  • Fifty Nifty Econ Cards [63]
  • Get Real: Life and Economics [64]
  • Great Piggybank Adventure [65]
  • HIP Pocket Change: U.S. Mint for Kids [66]
  • How Coins Are Minted [67]
  • How Old Is Your Penny? [68]
  • Ice Cream Truck [69]
  • Kids and Money [70]
  • Learning to Give: Spend, Save, Invest, or Donate [71]
  • Making Change: Coin Design [72]
  • Money as You Grow [73]
  • Moneyville [74]
  • Run Your Own Lemonade Stand [75]
  • Saving and Spending [76]
  • Savings Quest [77]
  • Symbols on American Money [78]
  • The Mint [79]
  • TreasuryDirect Kids [80]
  • Tykoon [81]
  • U.S. Currency Education Program [82]

Mobile Apps

Educational apps recommended by Common Sense Media and other trusted reviewers.

  • Bee Farming [83] $
  • Boston Museum of Fine Arts Ancient Coins [84]
  • Cash Cow [85] $
  • Dinorama [86] $
  • Freefall Money [87] $
  • Jungle Coins [88] $
  • Mathmateer [89] $
  • Moneyville [90] $
  • Monopoly [91] $
  • Motion Math: Cupcake! [92] $
  • PiggyBot [93]
  • Renegade Buggies [94] $
  • Rollercoaster Tycoon [95] $
  • Savings Spree [96] $
  • Savings Spree [97] $
  • Toca Store [98] $

More Themed Resources

Growing Readers Tip Sheets

Simple activities for parents and kids to do together to build reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Read online or print the PDF.

  • Creating Bar Charts [99]
    Download PDF: English [100] | Spanish [101]
  • One, Two, Buckle My Shoe: Math and Literacy for Preschoolers [102]
    Download PDF: English [103] | Spanish [104]
  • Patterns and Categorizing [105]
    Download PDF: English [106] | Spanish [107]
  • Meet the Author

    Mr. Chickee's Funny Money. Have you ever seen a quadrillion dollar bill with a picture of James Brown on the front? Newbery winner Christopher Paul Curtis [108] (Bud, Not Buddy) talks about the inspiration for his charming detective story.

Our Summer Blog

Our Summer Blog

  • Our first exploration: money! [109]

Washington DC for Kids

Places

  • Bureau of Printing and Engraving [110]
  • National Museum of American History [111]

See all DC Places and Events > [20]


Source URL: http://www.startwithabook.org/booklists/money

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[4] http://www.startwithabook.org/printmail/print/booklists/money
[5] http://www.startwithabook.org/print/print/booklists/money
[6] http://www.parkfoundation.org/
[7] http://www.startwithabook.org/summer-reading-learning
[8] http://www.startwithabook.org/booklists/bugs-birds-and-animals
[9] http://www.readingrockets.org/article/30917/
[10] http://www.startwithabook.org/reading-aloud
[11] http://www.exploratorium.edu/afterschool/activities/index.php?activity=133&firstDisplayedItem=1
[12] http://kids.discovery.com/tell-me/animals/bug-world
[13] http://bestappsforkids.com/2013/01/meet-the-insects-village-edition/
[14] http://www.readingrockets.org/article/51133/
[15] http://www.mnh.si.edu/education/exhibitions/insectzoo.html
[16] http://www.startwithabook.org/literacy-resources
[17] http://www.startwithabook.org/content/pdfs/Start%20with%20a%20Book%20calendar.pdf
[18] http://showmelibrarian.blogspot.com/2013/05/welcome-to-start-with-book-blog-tour.html
[19] http://www.readingrockets.org/article/27935/
[20] http://www.startwithabook.org/dc-for-kids
[21] http://www.readingrockets.org/article/38309/
[22] http://www.readingrockets.org/article/42162/
[23] http://www.startwithabook.org/booklists/night-sky
[24] http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/index.cfm
[25] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.stardroid&hl=en
[26] http://www.readingrockets.org/article/51766/
[27] http://www.startwithabook.org/sms
[28] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/014056750X/readingrockets-20
[29] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0670878553/readingrockets-20
[30] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375858830/readingrockets-20
[31] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0823422720/readingrockets-20
[32] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1626722358/readingrockets-20
[33] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0689711999/readingrockets-20
[34] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0823417948/readingrockets-20
[35] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0064467155/readingrockets-20
[36] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0823436985/readingrockets-20
[37] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1554530288/readingrockets-20
[38] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1880000539/readingrockets-20
[39] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0142408786/readingrockets-20
[40] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553494651/readingrockets-20
[41] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0440229197/readingrockets-20
[42] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1416914099/readingrockets-20
[43] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0763667633/readingrockets-20
[44] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0688133045/readingrockets-20
[45] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/160060658X/readingrockets-20
[46] http://www-tc.pbskids.org/cyberchase/parentsteachers/lessons/pdf/finlit_beingthrifty.pdf
[47] http://www.kerismith.com/blog/how-to-make-a-comic-wallet/
[48] http://www.startwithabook.org/content/pdfs/money_design.pdf
[49] http://apps.federalreserveeducation.org/resources/fiftynifty/resources/EconActivitiesGames.pdf#view=Fit
[50] http://www.pbs.org/parents/adventures-in-learning/2013/09/farmers-market-math/
[51] http://www.startwithabook.org/content/pdfs/Origami-MoneyBox-Ins-USL.pdf
[52] http://www.pbs.org/parents/adventures-in-learning/2015/01/the-state-quarter-geography-activity/
[53] http://www.readingrockets.org/books/fun/exquisiteprompt/vandusen/#3-5
[54] http://www.frbsf.org/education/teacher-resources/american-currency-exhibit
[55] http://www.usmint.gov/kids/cartoons/birthOfACoin/
[56] https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/economics/
[57] http://www.brainpop.com/games/budgethero/
[58] http://www.funbrain.com/cashreg/index.html
[59] http://www.clevelandfed.org/learning_center/online_activities/you_look_like_a_million_bucks/
[60] http://www.clevelandfed.org/learning_center/online_activities/discover_historic_currency/
[61] http://www.clevelandfed.org/learning_center/online_activities/barter_island/
[62] http://www.clevelandfed.org/learning_center/online_activities/explore_money/
[63] http://apps.federalreserveeducation.org/resources/fiftynifty/worksheets/flashcard/flash.html?view=flashcard
[64] https://www.omsi.edu/exhibitions/moneyville/activities.php#getreal
[65] http://piggybank.disney.go.com/
[66] http://www.usmint.gov/kids/
[67] http://www.usmint.gov/kids/coinNews/mintingProcess/
[68] http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/kidsite/portfolio/how-old-is-your-penny/
[69] http://www.brainpop.com/games/icecreamtruck/
[70] http://www.moneyinstructor.com/kids.asp
[71] http://learningtogive.org/lessons/unit391/lesson1.html
[72] http://www.usmint.gov/kids/games/makingChange/
[73] http://www.moneyasyougrow.org/
[74] http://www.moneyville.co.uk/
[75] https://www.omsi.edu/exhibitions/moneyville/activities.php#lemonade
[76] http://educators.brainpop.com/bp-jr-topic/saving-and-spending/
[77] http://www.mysavingsquest.com/
[78] http://www.philadelphiafed.org/education/teachers/publications/symbols-on-american-money/
[79] http://www.themint.org/kids/
[80] http://www.treasurydirect.gov/kids/kids.htm
[81] http://www.tykoon.com
[82] https://uscurrency.gov/
[83] https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bee-farming/id358168136?mt=8
[84] https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mfa-coins/id567764247?mt=8
[85] http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/cash-cow
[86] http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/dinorama
[87] http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/freefall-money
[88] https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/jungle-coins-learn-coin-math
[89] http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/mathmateer-formerly-rocket-math
[90] https://itunes.apple.com/dk/app/moneyville/id730919081?mt=8
[91] http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/monopoly-ipad
[92] https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/motion-math-cupcake
[93] https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/piggybot
[94] http://renegadebuggies.familieslearning.org/
[95] http://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/rollercoaster-tycoon
[96] http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/savings-spree
[97] https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/savings-spree
[98] http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/toca-store
[99] http://www.readingrockets.org/article/43814/
[100] http://www.readingrockets.org/pdfs/edextras/43814-en.pdf
[101] http://www.readingrockets.org/pdfs/edextras/43814-es.pdf
[102] http://www.readingrockets.org/article/33505/
[103] http://www.readingrockets.org/pdfs/edextras/33505-en.pdf
[104] http://www.readingrockets.org/pdfs/edextras/33505-es.pdf
[105] http://www.readingrockets.org/article/42199/
[106] http://www.readingrockets.org/pdfs/edextras/42199-en.pdf
[107] http://www.readingrockets.org/pdfs/edextras/42199-es.pdf
[108] http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/curtis/
[109] http://www.startwithabook.org/blog/our-first-exploration-money
[110] http://www.moneyfactory.gov/tours/washingtondctours.html
[111] http://americanhistory.si.edu/