Family Money Matters

Children's Literature-Economics

Nonfiction:

A Busy Day at Mr. Kang's Grocery Store—Alice K. Flanagan, photographs by Christine Osinski, Children's Press (1996). Describes the work done each day by a Korean American who owns (and lives above) the neighborhood grocery store. A beginning reader/picture book (photographs). Economic concepts: consumers, money, goods, specialization. Appropriate for large group story time and use as a reference in dramatic play.

The Cheerios® Counting Book—Barbara Barbieri McGrath, illustrated by Rob Bolster and Frank Mazzola, Jr. Scholastic, Cartwheel Books (1998). Text and illustrations of the familiar O-shaped cereal help the reader count to 10 and add groups of 10. Economic concepts: counting (money). Excellent for small group instruction and individual use in the math manipulative center.

The Coin Counting Book—Rozanne Lanczak Williams, Photographs Charlesbridge Publishing (2001). A money adding book in rhyme. Economic concepts: money. Small group instruction and teacher-initiated math center activity.

Counting Money—Tanya Thayer, Learner Publications (2002). "First step." A beginning reader/picture book (photographs). Economic concepts: Money. Excellent for small group/individual activities.

Crayons From Start to Finish—Samuel G. Woods, Woodbridge, CT: Blackbirch Press (1999). Text and photographs illustrate how crayons are made at the Binney & Smith Co. Economic concepts: goods, specialization. Good reference book.

Follow the Money—Loreen Leedy, Holiday House (2002). Written in first person. A quarter describes all the ways it is spent from the time it is minted until it is taken back to the mint. Money words and more information about money (Who needs money? Money in the U.S., Web sites: paper money ( www.bep.treas.gov), info. About the 50 States Quarters™ Program (www.usmint.gov.). Economic concepts: scarcity, consumers, money, goods. Appropriate for small group instruction of older/advanced preschoolers.

If You Made A Million—David M. Schwartz, illustrated by Steven Kellogg, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, New York (1989). Describes the various forms which money can take, including coins, paper money and personal checks, and how it can be used to make purchases, pay off loans, or earn interest in the bank. Economic concepts: scarcity, decision-making, consumers, money, goods, specialization, earning power. For older/advanced preschool students, one—on-one/small group instruction.

Jelly Beans For Sale—Bruce McMillan, ALA Notable Book (1996). Introduction to basic units of money. Uses jellybeans & the simple progression of coins (pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters) to captivate children and to teach the value of money. A beginning reader/picture book (photographs). Economic concepts: scarcity, decision—making, consumers, money, goods. Excellent for small group/individual activities.

Round and Round the Money Goes—Melvin and Gilda Berger, illustrated by Jane McCreary, Discovery Readers Ideals Children's Books, Nashville, TN (1993). Informational. Economic concepts: decision-making, money, services, goods. Reference book suitable for preschool students.

Supermarket—Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Melanie Hope Greenberg, Holiday House (2001). Explains supermarkets and how they work, discussing how they organize, display and keep track of the items they sell. Economic concepts: consumers, money, goods, specialization. Introduce book in a small group setting then put in dramatic play for students to use as a reference as they role play working/shopping at the grocery store. Better if told to younger students.

The Go-Around Dollar—Barbara Johnston Adams, illustrated by Joyce Audy Zarins, Four Winds Press, New York (1992). A story describing how an individual dollar bill changes hands, accompanied with facts about the one-dollar bill. Economic concepts: customers, money, goods, specialization. Story good for large group story time. Facts appropriate for older/advanced students in a one—on-one or small group setting.

The M&M's ® Counting Book—Barbara Barbieri McGrath, Charlesbridge Publishing (1994) Scholastic Inc. (2000). Count and sort with yummy M&M's! Economic concepts: counting (money). Excellent for small group instruction and individual use in the math manipulative center.

The Penny Pot—Stuart J. Murphy, illustrated by Lynne Cravath, HarperColins Publishers (1998). A little girl wants to have her face painted at the school fair but doesn't have enough money. The face painter suggests that she wait and see if people put enough extra pennies in the "penny pot" to pay for her services. Economic concepts: decision making, money, services. Good for large group story time and individual teacher-directed activities at the math center.

Who Works Here? Fast-Food Restaurant—Lola M. Schaefer, Heinemann Library, Chicago, Illinois (2001). Reference book with photographs and descriptions of the different jobs necessary to run a fast-food restaurant. Economic concepts: money, specialization, goods, wages. Adaptable for preschool students by reading the text in the purple boxes. Excellent reference book for dramatic play as students role-play working at a fast-food restaurant.

26 Letters and 99 Cents—Tana Hoban, Greenwillow Books (1987). Read the book one way for the alphabet, then turn it over and read about counting and money. Photographs. Economic concepts: counting (money). Excellent for small group instruction and individual use in the math manipulative center.

Fiction:

Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday—Judith Viorst, Illustrated by Ray Cruz, Atheneum Books for Young Readers (1978). Alexander receives a dollar from his visiting grandparents and spends it foolishly; yet he realizes what all can be done with one dollar. Economic concepts: scarcity, decision-making, consumers, money. Good for large group story time with older preschool students.

Apple Farmer Annie—Monica Wellington, Dutton Children's Books, NY (2001). Annie the apple farmer saves her most beautiful apples to sell at the farmer's market. Economic concepts: consumer, money, specialization, goods. Excellent for large group story time and a role-play resource in dramatic play.

Arthur's Pet Business—Marc Brown, Little , Brown and Company, New York (1990). Arthur wants a pet but must prove that he is responsible. He starts a "pet care" business and gets many customers. A lively tale about providing a service and earning money. Economic concepts: Money, business, borrowing and paying back. Preschool children enjoy this book and can easily create a pet business theme for dramatic play.

The Berenstain Bears—Stan and Jan Berenstain, Random House, NY (1985). Mama Bear starts a campaign to convince her family that they are eating too much junk food. Economic concepts: scarcity, decision-making, consumers, services, goods. Good for older preschoolers - large group story time.

The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmie's—Stan and Jan Berenstain, Randon House NY (1998). Gran and Gramps come up with a plan to help selfish Brother and Sister. Economic concepts: scarcity. Good for older preschoolers - large group story time.

The Berenstain Bears' Trouble With Money—Stan & Jan Berenstain, Random House, New York (1983). Brother and sister bear learn some important lessons about earning and spending money. Economic concepts: scarcity, decision—making, consumers, money, goods. Good for older preschoolers - large group story time.

The Big Buck Adventure—Shirley Gill & Deborah Tobola, illustrated by Grace Lin, Charlesbridge Publishing (2000). A rhyming math adventure. Economic concepts: scarcity, consumers, money, specialization, goods. Good for large group story time.

The Big Green Pocketbook—Candice F. Ransom, HarperCollins, NY (1993). A story of a little girl who fills her pocketbook with mementos of the places she and her mother visit on their bus trip to town. Economic concepts: consumers, money, services, specialization, goods. Good for story time.

Bunny Money—Rosemary Wells, Dial Books (1997). A story about a rabbit and his sister's birthday shopping adventure. Economic concepts: scarcity, consumers, money, specialization, goods. Good for large group story time.

Candy Shop—Jan Wahl, illustrated by Nicole Wong, Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc. (2004). A multicultural story about a little boy who earns money by doing chores for his aunt; and their shopping experience. Economic concepts: scarcity, consumers, money, specialization, goods. Good for older preschoolers.

Curious George Goes To A Toy Stor—Margaret and H.A. Rey, Houghton Mifflin Co, Boston (1990). Curious George proves that his antics can be profitable for a toy storeowner. Economic concepts: consumers, money, specialization, goods. Good for large group story time.

Don't Forget the Bacon!—Pat Hutchins, Greenwillow Books (1976). A little boy goes grocery shopping for his mother and uses rhyme to try to remember the grocery items she wants. Economic concepts: scarcity, consumers, specialization, goods. Excellent for large group story time. A book students will request and revisit.

Frannie's Fruits—Leslie Kimmelman, illustrated by Petra Mathers, Harper & Row (1989). A story about a little girl and her family who own/run a highway fruit and vegetable stand located near the beach. Economic concepts: consumers, money, specialization, goods. Good for older preschool students.

The Great Pet Sale—Mick Inkpen, Orchard Books, New York (no date). An interactive book about a little boy who goes to a pet store with a dollar to spend. Economic concepts: consumers, money, specialization, goods. Excellent for large group story time. Children will revisit this book on their own in the book area.

I Lost My Dad—Taro Gomi, Kan/Miller Book Publishers (2001). A little boy loses his dad in the toy section of a giant department store. His search for his dad through out the entire store is an interactive game of adventure. Economic concepts: consumers, specialization, goods. Interactive illustrations. Excellent for large group story time. Children will want to "read" this book on their own over and over again.

The Marvelous Market on Mermaid—Laura Krauss Melmed, illustrated by Maryann Kovalski, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, New York (1996). Gran's store is described in The House That Jack Built -- Economic concepts: consumers, money, specialization, goods. Excellent for large group story time, as well as, a reference for dramatic play.

Mr. Cookie Baker—Monica Wellington, Puffin Books (1997). Follow Mr. Baker through his day from sunup to sundown at his bakery. Economic concepts: consumers, specialization, goods. Excellent for large group story time. Good reference book for students as they role-play the bakery.

On Market Street–Arnold Lobell, illustrated by Petra Mathers, Harper & Row (1981). A child buys presents from A to Z in the shops along Market Street. An alphabet book. Economic concepts: consumers, goods. Good for small group activities and writing table, as well as dramatic play.

Our Garage Sale—Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Harlow Rockwell, Greenwillow Books, New York (1984). A child describes his familie's garage sale. Economic concepts: scarcity, consumers, money, goods. Excellent for large group story time and reference for role-play in dramatic play.

The Purse—Kathy Caple, Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston (1986). Katie buys a purse in which to keep her money. The purse costs as much as she has so she must earn money to put in it. Economic concepts: scarcity, decision-making, money, goods, earning power. Good for large and small group story time. Good reference for role-play in dramatic play.

Tom and Pippo Go Shopping: Pippo—Helen Oxenbury, Aladdin Books Macmillan Publishing, NY (1985) Mommy and Pippo go shopping. Economic concepts: scarcity, consumer, money, specialization, goods. Good for large group story time. A book preschool students will enjoy retelling.

Tommy at the Grocery Store—Bill Grossman, illustrated by Victoria Chess (Harper & Row Junior Books (1989). Tommy is mistaken for items in a grocery store until his mother comes to the rescue. Rhyming & nonsense. Economic concepts: consumers, money, specialization, goods. Good for large group story time.

Where Does Joe Go?—Tracey Campbell Pearson, Farrar Straus Giroux, New York (1999). A rhyming book about the townspeople's speculations as to where Joe goes during the winter when his snack shop is closed. Economic concepts: consumers, specialization, goods. Excellent for large group story time. Children will revisit this book on their own in the book area and make up their own rhymes.

You Can't Buy a Dinosaur With a Dime—Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Amanda Haley, Blue Apple Books, NY (2003). Story told in rhyme about a little boy who learns about earning, saving and spending money. Economic concepts: scarcity, decision-making, consumers, money, goods, earning power. Good for large group story time and teacher-directed activities at the math center.

Created by Karen Enlow, Teacher, Roberta Tully Elementary School, Louisville, Kentucky

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