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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 [6] (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, such as money and financial literacy. Reading widely in this way helps children build background knowledge [7], vocabulary [8], 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
  • Listen and learn with these podcasts especially for kids
  • 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
  • Share on Facebook [1]
  • Tweet Link [2]
  • Pin It [3]
  • Send by email [4]
  • Printer-friendly version [5]
Start with a Book is made possible with support from the Park Foundation [9]
 How to use Start with a Book [10]

 How to use Start with a Book [11]

River Rangers [12]

Other topics to explore

  • Civics and Our Government [15]
  • Math and Measuring [16]

Great Fiction & Nonfiction Books

Age Level: 3-6 years old

Printer-friendly versionPrint List

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 on Bookshop [22]

Purchase on Amazon [23]

Earn It!

By: Cinders MCleod

Age Level: 3-6 years old

Fiction

Carrots are money in Bunnyland. Bun, a young rabbit, earns carrots for helping her mother with...

Purchase on Bookshop [24]

Purchase on Amazon [25]

Purchase audio version [26]

Purchase Kindle version [27]

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

By: Simms Taback

Age Level: 3-6 years old

Fiction

When Joseph's overcoat becomes "old and worn," he snips off the patches and turns it into a jacket...

Purchase on Bookshop [28]

Purchase on Amazon [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 on Bookshop [30]

Purchase on Amazon [31]

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 on Bookshop [32]

Purchase on Amazon [33]

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 on Amazon [34]

Save It!

By: Cinders MCleod

Age Level: 3-6 years old

Fiction

A little bunny learns about the power and satisfaction that come with saving money. Honey earns...

Purchase on Bookshop [35]

Purchase on Amazon [36]

Purchase audio version [37]

Purchase Kindle version [38]

Spend It!

By: Cinders MCleod

Age Level: 3-6 years old

Fiction

A charming introduction to simple money concepts in which a bunny learns he can't buy everything...

Purchase on Bookshop [39]

Purchase on Amazon [40]

Purchase audio version [41]

Purchase Kindle version [42]

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 on Bookshop [43]

Purchase on Amazon [44]

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 on Bookshop [45]

Purchase on Amazon [46]

If You Made a Million

If You Made a Million

By: David M. Schwartz

Age Level: 6-9 years old

Concept Book

Have you ever wanted to make a million dollars? Marvelosissimo the Mathematical Magician is...

Purchase on Bookshop [47]

Purchase on Amazon [48]

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 on Bookshop [49]

Purchase on Amazon [50]

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 on Bookshop [51]

Purchase on Amazon [52]

Mulani Moneybags Starts a Business

Mulani Moneybags Starts a Business

By: Kelly Wallace, Mulani Ellington

Age Level: 6-9 years old

Fiction

Nine-year-old Mulani Moneybags is inspired after learning about entrepreneurship and decides to...

Purchase on Bookshop [53]

Purchase on Amazon [54]

One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference

By: Kate Smith Milway

Age Level: 6-9 years old

Fiction

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

Purchase on Bookshop [55]

Purchase on Amazon [56]

Sam and the Lucky Money

By: Karen Chinn

Age Level: 6-9 years old

Fiction

During Chinese New Year, a young boy encounters a homeless person and discovers that no gift is...

Purchase on Bookshop [57]

Purchase on Amazon [58]

Age Level: 9-12 years old

Printer-friendly versionPrint List

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 on Bookshop [59]

Purchase on Amazon [60]

Finance 101 for Kids

Finance 101 for Kids

By: Walter Andal

Age Level: 9-12 years old

Concept Book

One of the most important lessons that you can teach your kids is how to handle their money. In...

Purchase on Bookshop [61]

Purchase on Amazon [62]

Grandpa's Fortune Fables: Fun Stories to Teach Kids About Money

Grandpa’s Fortune Fables: Fun Stories to Teach Kids About Money

By: Will Rainey

Age Level: 9-12 years old

Concept Book

Grandpa’s adventures to the faraway island of Pucha-Pucha helped him to see money like seeds....

Purchase on Bookshop [63]

Purchase on Amazon [64]

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 on Bookshop [65]

Purchase on Amazon [66]

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 on Bookshop [67]

Purchase on Amazon [68]

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 on Bookshop [69]

Purchase on Amazon [70]

The Everything Kids' Money Book

The Everything Kids’ Money Book

By: Brette Sember

Age Level: 9-12 years old

Concept Book

Saving money isn’t about a piggy bank anymore. Today’s kids are investing money, starting their...

Purchase on Bookshop [71]

Purchase on Amazon [72]

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 on Bookshop [73]

Purchase on Amazon [74]

The Lemonade War

The Lemonade War

By: Jacqueline Davies

Age Level: 9-12 years old

Fiction

With just five days left of summer vacation, Evan and Jessie launch an all-out war to see who...

Purchase on Bookshop [75]

Purchase on Amazon [76]

The Story of Money

By: Betsy Maestro

Age Level: 9-12 years old

Nonfiction

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

Purchase on Bookshop [77]

Purchase on Amazon [78]

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 on Amazon [79]

Hands-on Activities

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

  • Charity Starts at Home [80] video
    PBS Adventures in Learning
  • photo of a wallet made using comics
    Comic-Themed Wallet [81]
  • twenty dollar bill
    Design Your Own Money [82]
  • Econ Activities and Games [83]
  • Farmers Market Math [84] video
  • Moody Money Trick [85] video
  • part of the instructions to create an oragami box
    Origami Money Box [86]
  • a US map and hands holding a quarter
    State Quarter Geography [87]

Great Websites for Kids

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

  • American Currency Exhibit [88]
  • Brain Pop: Economics [89]
  • Budget Hero [90]
  • Change Maker [91]
  • Design Your Own Money [92]
  • Discover Historic U.S. Currency [93]
  • Escape from Barter Islands [94]
  • Explore Money from Around the World [95]
  • Fifty Nifty Econ Cards [96]
  • Get Real: Life and Economics [97]
  • HIP Pocket Change: U.S. Mint for Kids [98]
  • How Coins Are Made [99] video
  • How Coins Are Minted [100]
  • How Old Is Your Penny? [101]
  • Ice Cream Truck [102]
  • Kids and Money [103]
  • Learning to Give: Spend, Save, Invest, or Donate [104]
  • Making Change: Coin Design [105]
  • Money as You Grow [106]
  • Moneyville [107]
  • Run Your Own Lemonade Stand [108]
  • Saving and Spending [109]
  • Savings Quest [110]
  • Symbols on American Money [111]
  • The Mint [112]
  • TreasuryDirect Kids [113]
  • Tykoon [114]
  • U.S. Currency Education Program [115]

Great Podcasts for Kids

Listen and learn with these podcasts especially for kids. These podcasts are free and easy to listen to from any device via Apple Podcasts [116], Google Podcasts [117], or Stitcher [118] — or from Listen Notes [119], a podcast search engine.

  • Money with Mak and G [120] audio
    Ben Jones
  • Million Bazillion [121] audio
    Marketplace

Educational Apps

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

  • Boston Museum of Fine Arts Ancient Coins [122]
  • Cash Cow [123] $
  • Dinorama [124] $
  • Freefall Money [125] $
  • Jungle Coins [126] $
  • Mathmateer [127] $
  • Monopoly [128] $
  • Motion Math: Cupcake! [129] $
  • PiggyBot [130]
  • Renegade Buggies [131] $
  • Savings Spree [132] $
  • Savings Spree [133] $
  • Toca Store [134] $

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 [135]
    Download PDF: English [136] | Spanish [137]
  • Patterns and Categorizing [138]
    Download PDF: English [139] | Spanish [140]
  • 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 [141] (Bud, Not Buddy) talks about the inspiration for his charming detective story.

Our Summer Blog

Our Summer Blog

  • What to read when it’s Hot, Hot, HOT out! [142]
  • Our first exploration: money! [143]

Washington DC for Kids

Places

  • Bureau of Printing and Engraving [144]
  • National Museum of American History [145]

See all DC Places > [146]


Source URL: https://www.startwithabook.org/summer-reading-learning/money

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[6] https://www.startwithabook.org/great-kids-books
[7] https://www.startwithabook.org/background-knowledge
[8] https://www.startwithabook.org/vocabulary-and-word-play
[9] http://www.parkfoundation.org/
[10] https://www.startwithabook.org/how-to
[11] https://www.startwithabook.org/summer-program-staff
[12] https://www.startwithabook.org/river-rangers-book-based-science-adventure
[13] https://www.startwithabook.org/we-are-storytellers-exploring-multicultural-folktales-fairy-tales-and-myths
[14] https://www.startwithabook.org/space-rangers-book-based-science-adventure
[15] https://www.startwithabook.org/summer-reading-learning/civics-and-our-government
[16] https://www.startwithabook.org/summer-reading-learning/math-and-measuring
[17] https://www.overdrive.com/
[18] https://www.audible.com/ep/kids-audiobooks
[19] https://www.tales2go.com/
[20] https://www.getepic.com/
[21] https://www.startwithabook.org/finding-audiobooks-and-ebooks
[22] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780140567502
[23] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/014056750X/readingrockets-20
[24] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780399544446
[25] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0399544445/readingrockets-20
[26] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07TVFL1G1/readingrockets-20
[27] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01MRNJK2E/readingrockets-20
[28] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780670878550
[29] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0670878553/readingrockets-20
[30] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780375858833
[31] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375858830/readingrockets-20
[32] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780823422722
[33] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0823422720/readingrockets-20
[34] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1626722358/readingrockets-20
[35] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9781984812407
[36] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1984812408/readingrockets-20
[37] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07V6N7LB2/readingrockets-20
[38] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07L7T4F7T/readingrockets-20
[39] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780399544460
[40] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0399544461/readingrockets-20
[41] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07PS48XZW/readingrockets-20
[42] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07DN1RDJG/readingrockets-20
[43] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780689711992
[44] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0689711999/readingrockets-20
[45] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780823417940
[46] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0823417948/readingrockets-20
[47] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780688136345
[48] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0688136346/readingrockets-20
[49] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780064467155
[50] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0064467155/readingrockets-20
[51] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780823436989
[52] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0823436985/readingrockets-20
[53] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9781736616802
[54] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1736616803/readingrockets-20
[55] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9781554530281
[56] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1554530288/readingrockets-20
[57] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9781880000533
[58] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1880000539/readingrockets-20
[59] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780142408780
[60] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0142408786/readingrockets-20
[61] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9781634139434
[62] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1634139437/readingrockets-20
[63] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9781739972608
[64] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1739972600/readingrockets-20
[65] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780553494655
[66] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553494651/readingrockets-20
[67] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780440229193
[68] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0440229197/readingrockets-20
[69] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9781416914099
[70] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1416914099/readingrockets-20
[71] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9781598697841
[72] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1598697846/readingrockets-20
[73] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780763667634
[74] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0763667633/readingrockets-20
[75] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780547237657
[76] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0547237650/readingrockets-20
[77] http://bookshop.org/a/24266/9780688133047
[78] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0688133045/readingrockets-20
[79] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/160060658X/readingrockets-20
[80] https://www.pbs.org/video/adventures-learning-charity-starts-home/
[81] http://www.kerismith.com/blog/how-to-make-a-comic-wallet/
[82] http://www.startwithabook.org/content/pdfs/money_design.pdf
[83] http://apps.federalreserveeducation.org/resources/fiftynifty/resources/EconActivitiesGames.pdf#view=Fit
[84] https://www.pbs.org/video/adventures-learning-famers-market/
[85] https://www.kiwico.com/diy/Science-Projects-for-Kids/3/project/Moody-Money-Trick/2933
[86] http://www.startwithabook.org/content/pdfs/Origami-MoneyBox-Ins-USL.pdf
[87] http://www.pbs.org/parents/adventures-in-learning/2015/01/the-state-quarter-geography-activity/
[88] http://www.frbsf.org/education/teacher-resources/american-currency-exhibit
[89] https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/economics/
[90] http://www.brainpop.com/games/budgethero/
[91] http://www.funbrain.com/cashreg/index.html
[92] http://www.clevelandfed.org/learning_center/online_activities/you_look_like_a_million_bucks/
[93] http://www.clevelandfed.org/learning_center/online_activities/discover_historic_currency/
[94] http://www.clevelandfed.org/learning_center/online_activities/barter_island/
[95] http://www.clevelandfed.org/learning_center/online_activities/explore_money/
[96] http://apps.federalreserveeducation.org/resources/fiftynifty/worksheets/flashcard/flash.html?view=flashcard
[97] https://www.omsi.edu/exhibitions/moneyville/activities.php#getreal
[98] http://www.usmint.gov/kids/
[99] https://www.usmint.gov/learn/kids/videos
[100] http://www.usmint.gov/kids/coinNews/mintingProcess/
[101] http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/kidsite/portfolio/how-old-is-your-penny/
[102] http://www.brainpop.com/games/icecreamtruck/
[103] http://www.moneyinstructor.com/kids.asp
[104] http://learningtogive.org/lessons/unit391/lesson1.html
[105] http://www.usmint.gov/kids/games/makingChange/
[106] http://www.moneyasyougrow.org/
[107] http://www.moneyville.co.uk/
[108] https://www.omsi.edu/exhibitions/moneyville/activities.php#lemonade
[109] http://educators.brainpop.com/bp-jr-topic/saving-and-spending/
[110] http://www.mysavingsquest.com/
[111] http://www.philadelphiafed.org/education/teachers/publications/symbols-on-american-money/
[112] http://www.themint.org/kids/
[113] http://www.treasurydirect.gov/kids/kids.htm
[114] http://www.tykoon.com
[115] https://uscurrency.gov/
[116] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-podcasts/id525463029
[117] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.podcasts&hl=en_US
[118] https://www.stitcher.com/
[119] https://www.listennotes.com/
[120] https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/money-with-mak-and-g-ben-jones-pg8PJf7ZoNw/
[121] https://www.marketplace.org/shows/million-bazillion/
[122] https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mfa-coins/id567764247?mt=8
[123] http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/cash-cow
[124] http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/dinorama
[125] http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/freefall-money
[126] https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/jungle-coins-learn-coin-math
[127] http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/mathmateer-formerly-rocket-math
[128] http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/monopoly-ipad
[129] https://www.commonsense.org/education/app/motion-math-cupcake
[130] https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/piggybot
[131] http://renegadebuggies.familieslearning.org/
[132] http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/savings-spree
[133] https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/savings-spree
[134] http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/toca-store
[135] http://www.readingrockets.org/article/43814/
[136] http://www.readingrockets.org/pdfs/edextras/43814-en.pdf
[137] http://www.readingrockets.org/pdfs/edextras/43814-es.pdf
[138] http://www.readingrockets.org/article/42199/
[139] http://www.readingrockets.org/pdfs/edextras/42199-en.pdf
[140] http://www.readingrockets.org/pdfs/edextras/42199-es.pdf
[141] http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/curtis/
[142] https://www.startwithabook.org/blog/what-read-when-it-s-hot-hot-hot-out
[143] https://www.startwithabook.org/blog/our-first-exploration-money
[144] https://www.moneyfactory.gov/washingtondctours.html
[145] http://americanhistory.si.edu/
[146] https://www.startwithabook.org/dc-for-kids