10 Excellent Money Books for Kids
Teaching kids about money can be tricky, but if you want to give them a headstart in the world, it’s also vital. Fortunately, there are tons of books available that will help kids discover more about financial concepts like earning, sending, saving, and budgeting in a fun, easy-to-understand way. If you’re ready to start having a conversation about money with your child, these are 10 of the best money books for kids to help you do it.
10. If You Made a Million by David M. Schwartz
For younger kids aged 4 to 8, David M. Schwartz’s If You Made a Million is an excellent introduction to the basics of money. By using a fun story involving a magician named Marvelosissimo the Mathematical Magician, Schwartz introduces a range of concepts covering everything from earning and investing to interest and dividends. There’s even practical advice on things like how to write and cash a check.
9. Heads Up Money by Marcus Weeks
Kids are infamous for having 101 questions about everything… not all of which parents always know the answer to! If your child has questions about economics and financial planning, Heads Up Money is a must-read. Using real-life scenarios, it explains a range of topics, from what hidden costs are (and how to calculate them) to the fundamentals of free trade and globalization. Written by Marcus Weeks in collaboration with Derek Braddon, Professor of Economics at UWE Briston Business School, it’s an excellent read for grades 5 to 12.
8. I Want More Pizza by Steve Burkholder
Recommended as a top read by investopedia.com, I Want More Pizza by Steve Burkholder introduces personal finance to kids in a fun and accessible way. Through real-life examples, hypothetical questions, and entertaining anecdotes, Burkholder encourages kids to understand the value of a healthy relationship with money. The book is split into four sections (or pizza slices, as they’re referred to), each of which covers a different topic, including debt, saving, and budgeting. It’s best suited to older kids and teens.
7. Money Plan by Monica Eaton
In Money Plan, Texas-based certified financial education instructor Monica Eaton teaches kids about basic financial concepts such as earning, saving, spending, and budgeting in a fun, easy-to-understand way. While it’s aimed at kids aged 4 to 7, the fun story, pictures, and rhyming structure will make it an entertaining bedside story for younger readers. Each book comes with the additional benefit of a teaching guide that will help coach parents on how to further explore the concepts raised in the book.
6. Arthur’s Funny Money by Lillian Hoban
Lillian Hoban’s Arthur’s Funny Money might be an oldie, but it’s a goldie. Parents have been relying on it to help teach their kids about basic money matters since the 1980s, and its advice is no less relevant today than it ever was. With the help of Arthur and his sister, Violet, kids will learn about simple business and financial concepts in a straightforward, fun way. It’s perfect for younger readers aged between 4 and 8.
5. Managing Your Money by Jane Bingham, Holly Bathie, Nancy Leschnikoff and Freya Harrison
Recommended by Roostermoney.com, Managing Your Money by Jane Bingham, Holly Bathie, Nancy Leschnikoff and Freya Harrison is a great option for older kids and teenagers. It offers practical advice on a range of money management skills that range from managing your money online to budgeting, finding out how credit cards work, and understanding student loans. For kids about to move from allowances to loans and paychecks, it’s invaluable.
4. Money Math: Addition and Subtraction by David A Adler
As parents.com point out, before you can start teaching kids the value of money, you’ll need to start teaching them what money actually is. Enter Money Math: Addition and Subtraction by David A Adler, a great introduction to math and finance that manages to be fun and educational at the same time. Kids will learn about bills and coins, who the people on the front of the currency are, and what that currency will get you in real life. As they progress, they’ll also learn how to calculate change and about the value of saving.
3. Bunny Money by Rosemary Wells
If your kids are already fans of Rosemary Wells’s bestselling Max and Ruby series, Bunny Money will make a great addition to their bookshelf. In it, brother and sister Max and Ruby head to town after Ruby saves up enough money to buy their grandma a gift. Soon enough, they learn just how quickly your hard-earned dough can slip away if you aren’t careful, and the predicament it can leave you in when it does. It’s an ideal introduction to basic financial management for kids between the ages of 3 and 5.
2. Amelia Bedelia Means Business by Herman Parish
In this first book in the new chapter book series from New York Times bestselling author Herman Parish, young Amelia Bedelia sets her heart on a new bicycle. After her parents say they’ll split the cost with her, Amelia starts to look for ways to raise some money. Cue mishaps, adventures, and enough fun and games to keep kids enthralled. By the end of it, they’ll have learned a valuable lesson about earning and saving money, as well as making a new friend in Amelia. It’s best for ages 6-9.
1. The Berenstain Bears’ Trouble with Money by Stan and Jan Berenstain
If you’re looking for a book that will help teach kids aged 3 -7 about money, The Berenstain Bears’ Trouble with Money by Stan and Jan Berenstain makes an excellent choice. Each book in The Berenstain Bears series has been created to teach a different life lesson or moral. In the case of Trouble with Money, Brother and Sister Bear learn about the value of saving, about the consequences of wasting money on things you don’t really need, and about having to work for the things you want. There’s also a simple and fun introduction to basic finance ideas like banking and interest.
