Have you ever noticed that later on in life, a lot of people’s views and behaviors on money were shaped in their childhood? Often times the kids will handle money the same way their parents did or according to the way parents spoke about money.
That’s why it’s important to be intentional about what you are teaching your kids about money. We’ve compiled a list of books that will help you do just that.
AGES 5 AND UP
1. A Bargain For Frances by Russell Hoban.
- Hoban, Russell (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
HarperCollins, 1970. Frances saves and saves for a china tea set. Her friend Thelma tricks her into buying an old plastic tea set. Thelma says there are no “backsies” on the bargain. Frances finds a way to get what she really wants.2. A Quarter From The Tooth Fairy by Caren Holtzman.
- English (Publication Language)
- Bt Bound (Publisher)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Scholastic Inc.,1995. A boy tries to figure out how to spend the money he got from the tooth fairy. This book has notes in the front for adults and activities in the back for kids.3. Alexander, Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Viorst.
- Judith Viorst (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Atheneum, 1978. Alexander started the week as a rich young man. There are so many things he could do with a dollar. The money begins to slip away.4. Apple Picking Time by Michele Benoit Slawson.
- Slawson, Michele B. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Crown, 1994. All the townspeople work in the orchards at harvest time. Anna sets a goal to pick a whole basket of apples herself.5. Brothers by Florence B. Freedman.
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Harper and Row, 1985. Two brothers inherit their father’s land and split it evenly. Find out how they make their father’s wish come true.6. How The Second Grade Got $8,205.50 To Visit The Statue Of Liberty by Nathan Zimelman.
- Zimelman, Nathan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Whitman, 1992. The second grade class finds out that earning money for a big trip is not as easy as it looks.7. Not So Fast Songololo by Niki Daly.
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Atheneum, 1985. A young boy goes with his grandmother to the busy city. He helps her do her shopping. Before they leave, she gets him a nice surprise.8. Something Special For Me by Vera B. Williams.
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Greenwillow Books, 1983. Rosa can’t make up her mind. After a long day of shopping, she finally finds the gift she wants.9. The Purse by Kathy Caple. Houghton Mifflin, 1986.
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Katie loves the noise her savings make in her Band-Aid box. She spends her savings on a new purse and throws away her Band-Aid box. Now she has no noise and no money.10. Tight Times by Barbara Shook Hazen.
- Barbara Shook Hazen (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Viking Press, 1979. David learns about “tight times” and making hard decisions.AGE 6 AND UP
11. A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams.
- Williams, Vera B (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Greenwillow Books, 1982. A family loses all their furniture in a fire. They set a goal to buy a chair for mother. Find out how the family, neighbors and friends work together for success.12. A Job For Jenny Archer by Ellen Conford.
- Conford, Ellen (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Little, Brown, 1988. Jenny wants to buy her Mom a fur coat. She tries many ways to earn money. Instead of a coat, Jenny finds the perfect gift in a most unlikely place.13. Arthur’s Pet Business by Marc Brown.
- Brown, Marc (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Little, Brown, 1990. Arthur wants a pet. His parents doubt he can take care of one. Arthur starts a pet business to prove his parents wrong.14. Erandi’s Braids by Antonio Hernández Madrigal.
- Madrigal, Antonio Hernandez (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
G.P. Putnam’s Sons (1999). Erandi’s mother needs a new fishing net and also wants to buy Erandi her birthday gift, but is unable to due to their limited income. Erandi recognizes that her braids are valuable and makes a decision.15. Leo And Emily’s Zoo by Franz Brandenberg (1988).
- Brandenberg, Franz (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Leo and Emily set up their own zoo. They make people pay to get in. Things don’t go well. See who helps them out.16. My Rows and Piles of Coins by Tololwa M. Mollel.
- Mollel, Tololwa M. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. Clarion Books (1999). Saruni saves money he receives from helping his mother work in the marketplace. His goal is to save enough money to buy a bicycle, so that he can better help his mother carry food to the marketplace. He works and saves his money for a long time. Money on the Bookshelf Concepts: Savings, Goal Setting, Prioritizing and Recognizing Success.17. Pedrito’s Day by Luis Garay.
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Illustrated by Monica Hughes. Orchard’s Books (1997). Pedrito works to make money to buy a bicycle to help his mother at the marketplace. He helps his aunt with work, but makes a mistake and looses her money. He then finds a way to fix his mistake. Money on the Bookshelf Concepts: Savings, Goal Setting, Problem Solving and Recognizing Success.18. Something Good by Robert Munsch. Annick Press Ltd., 1990.
- Item dimensions : 3.38 x 0.13 x 3.38 inches
- Munsch, Robert (Author)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tyya tries and tries to get her father to buy “something good” at the grocery store. After some trouble, Tyya’s father buys her for $29.95.19. The Gift by Aliana Brodmann.
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Simon and Schuster, 1993. A young girl cannot decide what to buy with her Hanukkah money. Her decision is touching and surprising.AGES 8 AND UP
20. The Rag Coat by Lauren A. Mills.
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Little Brown, 1991. Minna proudly wears her new coat of clothing scraps to school, where the other children laugh at her until she tells them the stories behind the scraps.AGES 9 AND UP
21. All The Money In The World by Bill Brittain.
- Brittain, Bill (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
HarperCollins, 1979. A young boy’s wish for all the money in the world comes true. The boy finds out that having all the money in the world isn’t as fun as he thought.22. The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.
- Twain, Mark (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Scholastic, 1876. In the second chapter, Tom gets out of the boring job of whitewashing the fence. He finds a way to get every boy in town to do it for him.23. Tybee Trimble’s Hard Times by Lila Perl.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Clarion, 1984. Tybee wants to go to the circus, but there’s no extra money. Should she go alone if she earns the money for a ticket?AGE 10 AND UP
24. Finders, Keepers? by Elizabeth Crary.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Parenting Press, 1987. What would you do if you found something? Finders of lost goods have choices.25. First Things First by Kristi D. Holl.
- Hardcover Book
- Holl, Kristi D. (Author)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Atheneum, 1986. Shelly’s mom and dad can’t pay for summer camp this year. Shelly spends her summer earning money. She finds out what is important to her.26. How To Get Fabulously Rich by Thomas Rockwell.
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Watts, 1990. Billy wins a lot of money. Everyone he knows wants some of the money. He wonders if winning was worth it.27. Mall Mania by Betsy Haynes.
- Haynes, Betsy (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Bantam Skylark, 1991. Beth borrows a friend’s credit card and goes on a shopping spree at the mall. She gets deeply into debt and must find a way out.28. The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill.
- Merrill, Jean (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Houghton Mifflin, 1972. Rufus makes his own toothpaste. He starts selling it and makes money. His friends help him make his business something great.AGE 13 AND UP
29. Seventeen Against The Dealer by Cynthia Voigt. Atheneum, 1989.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Voigt, Cynthia (Author)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Dicey uses her money to open a boat shop. When she tries to build her own boat, she ends up in situations she never imagined.30. Shadow In The North by Philip Pullman.
- Pullman, Philip (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Knopf, 1988. Sally’s business causes a client to lose money. She tries to find out why and is drawn into a complex plot.Compiled by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
Books listed are available at your local bookstore, public library or at Amazon.com.