Build your child’s money skills while you read
It's important to you to get the most out of reading time with your child. Money as You Grow Bookshelf lets you build on the time you may already spend reading together, and helps you bring money topics to life through storytime.
Get started
- Browse through the list of books and choose one you'd like to read with your child, for ages 4 to 10. The books should be readily available at your library or bookstore.
- Download the reading guide, which helps you explain the key ideas covered in the book and gives you questions to ask during reading time and activities for afterwards.
- Have fun reading together. Hold the book so everyone can see it and ask questions as you go. See 9 ideas to keep reading fun .

Visit the Money Monsters story page to learn more about the ideas, habits, and activities that they'll need as they grow up and start to manage their own money. Get started with our how-to guide and order free resources from GPO .
Want to bring the book club to your library? Get started with our how-to guide and order free resources from GPO .
Reading guides
Book list |
Key ideas |
Age |
|
---|---|---|---|
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Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday Find out what Alexander learns about self-control after he overspends. |
Prioritizing, |
4+ |
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A Bargain for Frances See how Frances had to work on prioritizing when she bought a tea set. |
Setting goals, |
6+ |
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The Berenstain Bears & Mama’s New Job See how Mama’s hobby became a way of earning money for the family. |
Setting goals, |
4+ |
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The Berenstain Bears’ Trouble with Money Check out ways the Bear family helped the cubs with saving their money. |
Making decisions, |
4+ |
|
But I've Used All of My Pocket Change See what happens after Lola makes some spending choices that she regrets. |
Making decisions, |
4–8 |
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A Chair for My Mother Check out how the family follows through after they save enough for a new chair. |
Setting goals, |
6+ |
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Count on Pablo (Cuenta Con Pablo) Find out how Pablo practices flexibility at the vegetable market. |
Solving problems, |
5–7 |
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Curious George Saves His Pennies See how a savings bank helps George practice sharing and borrowing. |
Making decisions, |
4–7 |
|
How Much Is That Doggie in the Window? Share in the feelings that come with doing things to help other people. |
Prioritizing, |
3+ |
|
Jingle Dancer See the ways Jenna takes small steps to reach her goal. |
Solving problems, |
4+ |
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Just Shopping with Mom Check out the way the children help Mom with spending at the store. |
Prioritizing, |
4+ |
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Lemonade in Winter Spot the ways Pauline and John-John exercise flexibility at their lemonade stand. |
Solving problems, |
3–7 |
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My Rows and Piles of Coins Sympathize with Sarumi as he uses self-control to resist salespeople at the market. |
Setting goals, |
4–7 |
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Ox-Cart Man Understand how the farm family set goals to make and grow things to use and eat. |
Earning, |
4+ |
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The Purse Find out how Katie felt when she set a goal of buying a new purse. |
Solving problems, |
4+ |
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The Rag Coat See how Minna stayed true to herself when her classmates talked about her coat. |
Solving problems, |
6–9 |
|
Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen See how Sally Jean uses patience and creativity to get what she really wants. |
Solving problems, |
4–8 |
|
Sam and the Lucky Money Find out how small amounts make a big difference during Sam’s trip to Chinatown. |
Prioritizing, |
4–8 |
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Sheep in a Shop Find out how the sheep solved the problem of not having enough money. |
Making decisions, |
4+ |
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Those Shoes See what happens when Jeremy prioritizes buying a pair of black high tops. |
Prioritizing, |
5–8 |
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Tia Isa Wants a Car (Tía Isa Quiere Un Carro) Check out how Tia Isa keeps track of her savings for the car she wants. |
Solving problems, |
4–8 |