12 Favorite Books to Start the Money Conversation with your Child

Welcome to the March Authentic Parenting Blog Carnival: Discovering through Books


This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Authentic Parenting Blog Carnival hosted by The Positive Parenting Connection and Authentic Parenting. This month our participants have investigated what role books have played in their lives. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.
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From Marc's photos on flickr.com

Have you ever tried to talk with your child about saving their money or working hard to earn their money?  And…did they tune you out or roll their eyeballs back into their head?  Instead of launching into a lecture about important financial concepts, try introducing the topics through a book that you and your child have both read.  There are many great literature classics that have money and business concepts embedded within the story.  You and your child or teen can begin with the shared experience of the story and you can lead the conversation into a financial discussion based upon the character or the situation.

Here are a few of my favorite books that you can use as conversation starters to talk about money, jobs and entrepreneurship.

Books for Young Kids:

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Clooney

Miss Rumphius was given the challenge when she was a child to make the world a more beautiful place.  This lovely book illustrates the impact that simple things can have on the world and kids can learn that you don’t need large amounts of money to make a difference.

Alexander who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Viorst

Alexander’s grandparents gave him a dollar on Sunday.  This story follows Alexander and his dollar through the week and beautifully illustrates his struggles to make good decisions with his money.

Richard Scary’s What Do People Do all Day by Richard Scary

A close up look at all the jobs in Busy Town.  Great for preschoolers!

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

How much should we willing give to help another person?  Shel Silverstein’s classic story of a tree and her boy shows the true meaning of giving. 

Books for Older Kids:

Anastasia at your Service by Lois Lowry

Anastasia is a 12 year old girl who decides to get her first job, as a companion to a wealthy, elderly woman. She makes a mistake on her first day at work and must continue to work to pay off her debt to her employer.

 

Henry and the Paper Route by Beverly Cleary

Henry is a 10 ½ year old boy who desperately want his own paper route.  Henry sets out to prove that he is capable of handling a route by introducing himself to the route manager, creating an advertising campaign and helping out  whenever possible.  Money is not the only reason he wants the job.  He also wants to do something “important” and wants to prove himself capable.  This story illustrates self-pride, motivation, creativity and entrepreneurship. 

Ramona and her Father by Beverly Cleary

Ramona is a precocious 2^nd grade girl who is having a rough year.  Her father has lost his job and her mother has gone back to work full-time.  The family is showing the strain of a reduced income and change in family lifestyle.  Ramona wants to help by doing a TV commercial and getting paid a million dollars!  It is a timeless tale of a family pulling together in hard times but it is wrapped in humor and love.

Lunch Money by Andrew Clements

Lunch Money is about a middle school boy, Greg Kenton, who has always been obsessed with making money.  Greg started with a lemonade stand and progressed to buying candy and toys in bulk to sell at school.  The story takes a close look at commercialism in public schools and the existing attitudes toward entrepreneurship.

Books for Teens:

Money Hungry by Sharon G. Flake

Raspberry Hill is a 13 year old girl who lives in the projects with her mother.  Her memories of being homeless and eating handouts drive her to think about money constantly.  She is in survival mode and will do anything legally possible to prevent living on the streets again.

Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolf

LaVaughn is a 14 year old, inner city girl who needs a job to save money for college.  She answers an ad for a babysitter and begins working for Jolly, a 17 year old, single mother of two who is just trying to survive.  This book is a bittersweet story of how two teen girls help each other and learn to “make lemonade”.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

In this classic tale, Charlie, a poor young boy, gets a golden ticket to enter the Wonka Candy factory and a chance to win a lifetime of wealth for his family.  He is faced with unethical choices and “get rich quick” schemes.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Mary Lennox is a spoiled little girl who unfortunately becomes orphaned and as a result, goes to live with her reclusive uncle in England.  Through a secret garden and unlikely friendships, Mary learns that money doesn’t buy happiness and she is able to reconnect the family relationships.

What books have you found that have money concepts embedded in the story?  Have you shared them with your child or teen?

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Visit The Positive Parenting Connection and Authentic Parenting to find out how you can participate in the next Authentic Parenting Blog Carnival! Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

• Books and Play — MudpieMama at The Positive Parenting Connection is sharing a fun play based activity that enhances reading comprehension, vocabulary and attention.
• Using Literature to Talk with Your Child About Money — Pam from The MoneyTrail Blog shares her 12 favorite stories to initiate conversations about money with your child.
• Reconnecting Through Reading — Reading aloud with our children has its many rewards, from increased vocabulary and reading skills to creative thinking and problem solving skills. At Living Peacefully with Children, reading is also a time to reconnect at the end of the day.
• It’s a Book Party — Valerie at Momma in Progress shares a fun way she encourages reading at her house.
• The Importance of Storytelling — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama discusses the importance of storytelling as well as how to select a book worthy of reading with your young child.
• I Love Books! And I Hope My Daughter Does, Too. — Becky at Old New Legacy shares ideas and experiences in her attempt to raise a bookworm.
• The Wonderful World of Children's Books — Carrie @ LoveNotesMama shares her enthusiasm and adoration for the joys and gifts that children's books bring.
• Books, Have They Become Obsolete?  — Laura at Authentic Parenting investigates wether there's still room for books in this modern world of internet and digital readers.
• Books and Unschooling a Preschooler  — Lauren at Hobo Mama follows her four-year-old's lead through mummies, digestion, and whale sharks.
• Beyond Reading: How Books Help Us Live and Learn  — Sheila of A Living Family describes how, more than helping her children learn to read, books help her family live and learn together.
• Once Upon a Time, There Was a Princess With a Career Plan...  — Helen @ zen mummy wonders how - and if - the tales our children hear influence their future