Are you looking for a last-minute gift or stocking stuffer for a school-age child? Why not buy them a fun book that also teaches some great lessons about money? Here are some recommendations, especially for younger kids — some of which my family has firsthand experience with and others that were recommended by other family members and friends. After each title, the suggested reader age range is in parentheses.
Bunny Money (3-5). When a brother and sister go shopping for a present for their grandma, much goes wrong, but some good lessons are learned along the way.
Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday (4-8). Poor Alexander. He had good intentions for the dollar his grandparents gave him. But with all the tempting things to spend it on, it was gone before he knew it. Teaches some great lessons about the importance — and the difficulty — of practicing delayed gratification.
The Gift of Nothing (5-8). What gift do you buy for a friend who has everything? It’s a gift that money can’t buy.
Ramona and Her Father (8-12). When a second-grader’s father loses his job, she tries to help ease the family’s financial strain.
Double Fudge (8-12). The wonder and innocence of a young boy being introduced to the world of money.
The Seventeenth Swap (8-12). A boy “swaps up” 17 times to get his disabled friend the boots he can’t afford.
The Toothpaste Millionaire (10-12). A boy discovers that toothpaste costs a lot less to make than it usually sells for, comes up with a business plan, makes his own low-cost toothpaste, and strikes gold.
There are many Berenstain Bears books, a number of which deal with money and material things, including:
The Berenstain Bears Think of Those in Need (3-7). Some good lessons about the excesses in our lives and becoming aware of those who don’t have very much.
The Berenstain Bears’ Trouble with Money (3-7). The little Bears learn how to strike the balance between hanging onto money too tightly and spending it too freely.
The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings (3-7). A scary storm provides lessons about gratitude.
The Berenstain Bears’ Dollars and Sense (3-7). Brother and Sister Bear learn how to manage an allowance.
The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble With Commercials (4-8). The Bear kids learn that the commercials they see on TV may not always tell it like it is.
The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble With Things (4-8). Brother and Sister Bear learn that the best things in life can’t be bought at a store.
The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble With Chores (4-8). When the Bear kids stop doing their chores, Mama Bear decides to stop doing hers as well.
The Berenstain Bears: Jobs Around Town (4-8). The Bear kids begin seeing how their God-given gifts could lead to a great vocation.
The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving (4-8). Especially appropriate at Christmastime, since Brother and Sister Bear learn to set their sights beyond what they might receive.
Even more books
Financial author and blogger Mary Hunt offers her suggestions here.
Videos
Do you remember the VeggieTales videos? Geared toward kids ages 4-8, they’re still available via YouTube and many teach some great financial lessons, including:
Madame Blueberry: A Lesson in Thankfulness
Lord of the Beans: A Lesson in Using Your Gifts
King George and the Ducky: A Lesson in Selfishness
Abe and the Amazing Promise: A Lesson in Patience
Veggie Tales: It’s a Meaningful Life: A Lesson in Being Content
Bonus idea
One of my all-time favorite ways of teaching kids about money, and especially the importance of generosity, is to sponsor a child through Compassion International or World Vision. Your kids will get to correspond with your sponsored child, which opens up opportunities to learn about very different ways of life, geography, and more. One of the best benefits is how tangible your family’s generosity will become in the eyes of your children. That’s certainly been true in our family.
One morning over breakfast, when our oldest child was about four, I gave him a pop quiz about money (Oh, the joys of having a dad who teaches about money for a living!). I had been talking with him about the various things you can do with money, such as giving, saving, and spending. The night before, we had talked about our sponsored child, Aziz, who lives in Burkina Faso. One year, we sent Aziz some extra money for his birthday and he wrote back with a picture of what he bought: extra soap and rice for his family.
So, with our little guy still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, I asked him to name three things you can do with money. He yawned, stretched his arms, and said, “Ah, you can spend it, save it, or…give it to Aziz.” I loved that. Generosity wasn’t just a nice idea to him. Through Aziz, he could see how it impacts real people in tangible ways.
What are some of your favorite money books for young kids? Or what are some other ways you’re teaching your kids (or grandkids) about money? Let me know in the comments section below. And, if you’re the parent of a school-age child or of an adult child who has children of their own, consider picking up a copy of Trusted: Preparing Your Children for a Lifetime of God-Honoring Money Management.
