DOLLARS AND SENSE

Providing a "basic operating manual for money," this engaging book steers kids away from common trial-and-error mistakes and shows them how to responsibly manage their money and make important decisions about their financial futures. Sprinkled with humorous, pig-filled illustrations (e.g., pigs spread over a map to show the locations of the Federal Reserve Banks), short chapters with titles such as "Skulls, Sheep, and Shells: Money as a Medium of Exchange" and "Worry, Worry, Worry! Keeping Money Safe" highlight key terms as they cover the history of money, how banks work, the Great Depression and the Great Recession, debt, and sticking to a budget. Though written at a middle school reading level, secondary students will find the book entertaining and helpful as well.