The Secret
Life of Money:
A Kid’s Guide
to Cash
Written by Kira Vermond
Illustrated by Clayton ‘CTON’ Hanmer
Published by Owlkids Books, 2013
Available in multiple languages.
If discussing money is a difficult task for adults, it’s doubly so where kids are involved. Not only is the subject loaded with cryptic jargon (mortgages? Bull markets? Huh?), but it often fails to click with how a kid sees his or her world. Many preteens and young teens do not yet have a job, and even if they do, their responsibilities with their earnings are miles away from grown-up money issues. In other words, not only is money a little overwhelming and mysterious, it’s also seen as something they can't do anything about. The Secret Life of Money is written to address this last point in particular. Its central message is that money affects us deeply and that even kids can have an effect on it, too. This book uses odd anecdotes, engaging comics, and a wealth of surprising everyday connections to help young readers see and understand cash from an entirely different angle. From the history of different currencies to why we buy what we buy, from how charities and credit cards work to saving and investing, and a whole lot more, readers will gain not only an appreciation for the myriad ways that money changes, influences, and (even) betters their lives, they will arrive to an understanding of the control they have over it.
Ontario Library Association, Red Maple Award, 2013
Canadian Children's Book Centre, Best Books for Kids and Teens Selection, 2012
Childrenʼs Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award, 2013
British Columbia Library Association, Red Cedar Information Book Award, 2013
VOYA's Nonfiction Honor List, 2013
“Comprehensive, easily read, engaging, and approachable segments...show respect for children as intelligent learners capable of understanding concepts many adults find confusing. In fact, adults might consider reading the book not only to foster dialogue with their kids, but to learn a few things themselves.”
“A perceptive and timely publication on financial literacy for a new generation.”
“The Secret Life of Money makes a significant contribution to the current demand in our society for young people to receive education in financial literacy...Highly recommended.”
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