Children's Literature- Nonfiction M-Z
Click on any picture of a book to open a new external window with the Amazon.com listing of that book.
Title: Playing The Market: Stocks and Bonds
Author: Daniel Condon
Publication: 2003, Heinemann Library
ISBN #: 9781588109583
Theme: Stock Market
Recommended for Grade Levels: 4-6
Assessment Rating: 3-Fair
Assessment:
This book is an introduction of saving and investments that focuses on how companies raise money to finance their day to day activities. This book is geared towards upper elementary grades and gives those students a look into what it is like to pay for business expenses using investor’s funds. The book teaches students how to read a financial newspaper, analyzed stocks and bonds, what the Federal Reserve is and the job it does for the country, and how business is affected by financial markets domestically and across the world. There are many colorful pictures in here but the writing style maybe challenging to follow for a upper elementary reading audience.
This book is an introduction of saving and investments that focuses on how companies raise money to finance their day to day activities. This book is geared towards upper elementary grades and gives those students a look into what it is like to pay for business expenses using investor’s funds. The book teaches students how to read a financial newspaper, analyzed stocks and bonds, what the Federal Reserve is and the job it does for the country, and how business is affected by financial markets domestically and across the world. There are many colorful pictures in here but the writing style maybe challenging to follow for a upper elementary reading audience.
Title: Saving Money
Author: Natalie M. Rosinsky
Publication: 2004, Compass Point Books
ISBN #: 0756514762
Theme: Saving
Recommended for Grade Levels: 2-3
Assessment Rating: 3-Fair
Assessment:
This is another Rosinsky book aimed at teaching valuable lessons about finances to children at a young age. This book is appropriate for students in grades 2-3. This book concentrates on the different ways that people and financial institutions save their money and why it is such an important skill to master. The book discusses different methods through which the student can open up a savings account such as banks or credit unions. It also covers different ways of accessing your savings account once you have started one. It covers how to read a bank statement and how to check statements online. We think this is a great basic personal finance book that teaches a great foundation of a necessary skill. This along with her other books will build a strong finance vocabulary via the index and glossary provided in the back of the book.
Title: Saving Money
Author: Tanya Thayer
Publication: 2002, Lerner Publication Company
ISBN #: 0822512602
Theme: Saving
Recommended for Grade Levels: K through 2
Assessment Rating: 4-Good
Assessment:
This book is appropriate for Kindergarten and early Grade 1 for a read aloud and for late Grade 1 into Grade 2 for guided or independent reading. It covered where to save money (e.g., piggy bank, jar, or real bank), why to save money (e.g., so you can buy things you want), and some facts about saving money (e.g., “piggy banks were originally made from a clay called pygg. Later the banks were made to look like pigs and were called piggy banks”). It is a nice introduction to saving for children in K through Grade 2. The pictures are relevant to modern day children and the text is not too complicated for children of this age group to understand.
This book is appropriate for Kindergarten and early Grade 1 for a read aloud and for late Grade 1 into Grade 2 for guided or independent reading. It covered where to save money (e.g., piggy bank, jar, or real bank), why to save money (e.g., so you can buy things you want), and some facts about saving money (e.g., “piggy banks were originally made from a clay called pygg. Later the banks were made to look like pigs and were called piggy banks”). It is a nice introduction to saving for children in K through Grade 2. The pictures are relevant to modern day children and the text is not too complicated for children of this age group to understand.
Title: Show Me The Money-How to Make Cents of Economics
Author: Alvin Hall
Publication: 2008, DK Publishing
ISBN #: 0756637627
Theme: Money Knowledge
Recommended for Grade Levels: 3-5 as a Reference Book
Assessment Rating: 3-Fair
Assessment:
This is an introductory book of what money is and how it operates as a medium of exchange for all countries. The book covers a brief history of money and bartering. Then the book goes into how children or students can be frugal and spend wisely. It shows needs vs. wants and shows how to analyze purchasing decisions and not purchase on impulse. The book also defines economics and how economic concepts work. The book addresses simple demand and supply curves and how they set the prices for different markets. The writing style of the book is energetic by bouncing back and forth between easily understandable topics relating to how one should save and spend their money, to topics of economic theory. We think the book could be used in a social studies lesson about the history of money or in a math lesson on decimals (for example).
This is an introductory book of what money is and how it operates as a medium of exchange for all countries. The book covers a brief history of money and bartering. Then the book goes into how children or students can be frugal and spend wisely. It shows needs vs. wants and shows how to analyze purchasing decisions and not purchase on impulse. The book also defines economics and how economic concepts work. The book addresses simple demand and supply curves and how they set the prices for different markets. The writing style of the book is energetic by bouncing back and forth between easily understandable topics relating to how one should save and spend their money, to topics of economic theory. We think the book could be used in a social studies lesson about the history of money or in a math lesson on decimals (for example).
Title: Six Days in October: The Stock Market Crash of 1929
Author: Karen Blumenthal
Publication: 2002, Antheneum Books for Young Readers
ISBN #: 0-689-84276-7
Theme: Stock market
Recommended for Grade Levels: 5 and above
Assessment Ranking: 4-Good
Assessment:
This non-fiction book addresses the six days in October of 1929 when the stock market crashed and when America’s financial stability was in question. The method of providing stories and events on a daily basis is quite unique and provides an interesting ride for the reader. The illustrations consist of photographs of newspaper articles, people, buildings, etc. from that timeframe. Through the book there are inserts that cover specific topics, for example:
The text is an excellent resource book for later elementary and probably more appropriately middle school students. It takes complex vocabulary and stock market concepts and explains them in an understandable and straightforward manner. The content is accurate and facts are presented in an unbiased yet entertaining case study format. From an instructional flexibility perspective, I believe it is a bit limited as the text is more appropriately a resource book for an older student. I would recommend consuming this book is small chunks across a multi-week unit on economics.
This non-fiction book addresses the six days in October of 1929 when the stock market crashed and when America’s financial stability was in question. The method of providing stories and events on a daily basis is quite unique and provides an interesting ride for the reader. The illustrations consist of photographs of newspaper articles, people, buildings, etc. from that timeframe. Through the book there are inserts that cover specific topics, for example:
- What are stocks?
- What are bonds?
- What is a stock exchange?
- What is the meaning of a bull market and a bear market?
- What is the Dow Jones Industrial Average?
- What is a brokerage house?
The text is an excellent resource book for later elementary and probably more appropriately middle school students. It takes complex vocabulary and stock market concepts and explains them in an understandable and straightforward manner. The content is accurate and facts are presented in an unbiased yet entertaining case study format. From an instructional flexibility perspective, I believe it is a bit limited as the text is more appropriately a resource book for an older student. I would recommend consuming this book is small chunks across a multi-week unit on economics.
Title: Spending Money
Author: Natalie M. Rosinsky
Publication: 2004, Compass Point Books
ISBN #: 0756514770
Theme: Spending Money
Recommended for Grade Levels: 2-3
Assessment Rating: 4-Good
Assessment:
This book concentrates on the different ways money is spent and how to make frugal and wise decisions when spending money. This book aims to show that people (the readers in this case) need to make sure they have enough money for what they need before they start spending their money on items that they may want. There is a brief discussion about consumerism, credit cards and overspending. The end of the book provides interesting facts as well as an index and glossary for vocabulary building. This book is versatile in the classroom as it could be used in math or social studies lessons.
This book concentrates on the different ways money is spent and how to make frugal and wise decisions when spending money. This book aims to show that people (the readers in this case) need to make sure they have enough money for what they need before they start spending their money on items that they may want. There is a brief discussion about consumerism, credit cards and overspending. The end of the book provides interesting facts as well as an index and glossary for vocabulary building. This book is versatile in the classroom as it could be used in math or social studies lessons.
Title: Straight Talk About Money
Author: Marion B. Rendon and Rachel Kranz
Publication: 1992, Facts on File, Inc.
ISBN #: 0-8160-2612-2
Theme: Money
Recommended for Grade Levels: 6 and above
Assessment Ranking: 2-Needs Improvement
Assessment:
This non-fiction book seems to be targeted at the teen population and is broken into two parts: “Money and the Economy”; and “Money and You.” Specific items covered include:
Although the content material provided in this book is excellent, the format of presentation appears lacking. There are no illustrations, photographs, charts, or tables provided within the text which would be useful for the more visual learner. The language is complex and is written more appropriately for an adult than for a teenager. Although little or no bias in the book, the instructional flexibility is limited as the chapters are long and not a lot of subheadings provided. Our recommendation is to pass on this text for the elementary school level and only use it as a supplemental text for a research project within the middle school grades.
This non-fiction book seems to be targeted at the teen population and is broken into two parts: “Money and the Economy”; and “Money and You.” Specific items covered include:
- A history of money
- An overview of what constitutes an economy (e.g., wages and prices, banks, stock markets, government, etc.)
- The banking system
- Ways to earn money
- How to save and spend money wisely
Although the content material provided in this book is excellent, the format of presentation appears lacking. There are no illustrations, photographs, charts, or tables provided within the text which would be useful for the more visual learner. The language is complex and is written more appropriately for an adult than for a teenager. Although little or no bias in the book, the instructional flexibility is limited as the chapters are long and not a lot of subheadings provided. Our recommendation is to pass on this text for the elementary school level and only use it as a supplemental text for a research project within the middle school grades.
Title: Supply and Demand
Author: Janeen R. Adil
Publication: 2006, Capstone Press
ISBN #: 9780736853972
Theme: Supply and Demand
Recommended for Grade Levels: K-2
Assessment Rating: 5-Excellent
Assessment:
This book is aimed to teach very young students about how pricing works and how it is closely related to the supply of a product. The font of the pages is large and the vocabulary words are all in bold to help reinforce the teaching of a financial vocabulary to very young students. The hands on portion of the book provide a simulated game scenario that will draw on the knowledge of the book to complete the game/activity. There are quizzes available for accelerated readers as an expansion to the book. The illustrator also does a nice job with colorful pictures that will help draw the reader to the book and the subject.
This book is aimed to teach very young students about how pricing works and how it is closely related to the supply of a product. The font of the pages is large and the vocabulary words are all in bold to help reinforce the teaching of a financial vocabulary to very young students. The hands on portion of the book provide a simulated game scenario that will draw on the knowledge of the book to complete the game/activity. There are quizzes available for accelerated readers as an expansion to the book. The illustrator also does a nice job with colorful pictures that will help draw the reader to the book and the subject.
Title: Wall Street
Author: Melissa Whitcraft
Publication: 2003, Children’s Press, a Division of Scholastic Inc.
ISBN #: 0-516-24217-2
Theme: Stock market
Recommended for Grade Levels: 4 through 6
Assessment Ranking: 5-Excellent
Assessment:
This non-fiction book provides historical information about the stock market and Wall Street from 1625 through 2002 (including the 9/11 tragedy and its implications to the financial markets). It contains an excellent glossary of stock market related terms such as commodities, securities, and speculator. The timeline of key events in the history of Wall Street is particularly useful for explain how the stock market has changed over time. Moreover this graphic maps directly to the text of the book. The book also does a nice job of addressing the risk associated with the stock market (e.g., what goes up must come down). I would leverage the historical slant that this book provides and cover the particular chapter of the book when studying that subject in history. For example, when studying the creation of the American colonies I would use the chapter on the colony of New Amsterdam (now New York) and incorporate the stock market and economics in general to the overall discussion. The book also covers famous people associated with Wall Street ranging from Victoria Woodhull (the first female stockbroker) to James Fisk (attempted to control the gold market). The text’s strengths include all areas of our evaluation (use of language, illustrations, lack of bias, instructional flexibility, and content accuracy).
This non-fiction book provides historical information about the stock market and Wall Street from 1625 through 2002 (including the 9/11 tragedy and its implications to the financial markets). It contains an excellent glossary of stock market related terms such as commodities, securities, and speculator. The timeline of key events in the history of Wall Street is particularly useful for explain how the stock market has changed over time. Moreover this graphic maps directly to the text of the book. The book also does a nice job of addressing the risk associated with the stock market (e.g., what goes up must come down). I would leverage the historical slant that this book provides and cover the particular chapter of the book when studying that subject in history. For example, when studying the creation of the American colonies I would use the chapter on the colony of New Amsterdam (now New York) and incorporate the stock market and economics in general to the overall discussion. The book also covers famous people associated with Wall Street ranging from Victoria Woodhull (the first female stockbroker) to James Fisk (attempted to control the gold market). The text’s strengths include all areas of our evaluation (use of language, illustrations, lack of bias, instructional flexibility, and content accuracy).
Title: What Do Banks Do?
Author: Roberta Basel
Publication: 2006, Capstone
ISBN #: 0736853987
Theme: Managing Money
Recommended for Grade Levels: 1 through 2
Assessment Rating: 4-Good
Assessment:
This book is all about the different roles and purposes of a bank. This book introduces its readers to money safes, checking accounts, savings accounts, deposits, loans, electronic services, and other bank services. This book is full of child-friendly definitions. A highlight to this book is the wonderful sidebar fun facts. This would be a great book for a read aloud, or as a classroom reference throughout an economic unit.
This book is all about the different roles and purposes of a bank. This book introduces its readers to money safes, checking accounts, savings accounts, deposits, loans, electronic services, and other bank services. This book is full of child-friendly definitions. A highlight to this book is the wonderful sidebar fun facts. This would be a great book for a read aloud, or as a classroom reference throughout an economic unit.
