Using Children’s Books to Teach Financial Literacy

It’s never too early to instill smart money management skills and savings lessons to children. One of the best ways to do this is through hands-on experience and real-life situations. This can be as simple as helping your child create and achieve a savings goal and to sharing your money-saving practices at the supermarket. To assist with your efforts, there are also plenty of children’s books that teach and reinforce these ever-important financial lessons. The following is a list of twelve popular children’s books to help young children learn to money management skills.

1. One Cent, Two Cents, Old Cent, New Cent: All About Money by Bonnie Worth – This fun Dr. Seuss book featuring The Cat in the Hat shows that money absolutely does not grow on trees.

1. Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Viorst – This tale describes the day Alexander receives a dollar from his grandparents. As Alexander’s dollar dwindles, the story emphasizes the value of saving money and also provides a basic math lesson in adding and subtracting.

1. Curious George Saves His Pennies by H.A. Rey  – This story follows the beloved monkey as he saves up for a special red train he found in the toy store. The hardcover picture book also includes a press-out coin bank and a activity page showing how coins and bills work.

1. Franklin Says I Love You by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark – This book shows children that it’s not always the items that cost money that make the best gifts as Franklin struggles with what to buy his mom for her birthday.

1. The Berenstain Bears’ Trouble with Money by Stan & Jan Berenstain –  The Berenstain bear cubs learn the value of earning money the right way and also how to save it.

1. Once Upon a Dime: A Math Adventure by Nancy Kelly Allen – Farmer Worth discovers that a special tree on his farm produces different kinds of money, depending on what animal fertilizer he uses.

1. Do I Need It? or Do I Want It?: Making Budget Choices’ by Jennifer S. Larson – This book teaches the important lesson of understanding and distinguishing needs from wants.

1. Pretty Penny Sets Up Shop by Devon Kinch – This is a story about a six-year-old girl who wants to earn money so she can throw her grandmother a surprise birthday party.

1. Jenny Found a Penny by Trudy Harris– This book shows ways Jenny saves money and it’s a great book for teaching math skills and coin recognition.

1. Bunny Money by Rosemary Wells – After a few mishaps with money mismanagement, Max and Ruby learn a lesson in the value of money when buying their grandma a present.

1. One Hen: How One Small Loan Makes a Difference by Katie Smith Milway – This is a story about a boy from Ghana who turns a small loan into a thriving farm.

1. MathStart series books by Stuary J. Murphy – This visual learning author’s series of 63 MathStart books do more than tell stories; they teach math, a large part of financial literacy.

There are many other books that teach children about financial literacy and books are an engaging way to teach this important topic. Visit your local library or bookstore to pick up a savings story today. And as a parent, remember to look for opportunities in everyday activities to teach your children about money management and savings. Saving money is a lesson everyone can use, no matter what age!

by: Carolyn Kiser